With nearly 445,000 votes logged, the Oak received over 100,000 votes. The top five trees, Oak, Redwood, Dogwood, Maple and Pine, captured 67% of the vote, with 33% of the vote distributed among the other 16 tree candidates. Complete results are displayed below.
Rosenow thanked "everyone who voted or encouraged others to take part in this historic process, which marked the first time that the entire American public has been able to state their pick for a national emblem." Their Internet web site helped increase the voting to nearly one half million.
The Top Five Results
Oak Voted #1 Quercus sp., With 101,146 Votes
Redwood Voted #2 Sequoia sempervirens, With 80,841 Votes
Flowering Dogwood Voted #3 Cornus florida, With 47,351 Votes
Maple Voted #4 Acer sp., With 45,111 Votes
Pine Voted #5 Pinus sp., With 23,806 Votes
Not Legal Yet
You must remember that the designation of an official national emblem for the United States, such as a national tree, requires legislation passed by Congress. Legislation for a national emblem is initiated in the House of Representatives or in the Senate, and must be passed by both bodies.
According to NADF - "the vote for America's National Tree in which you are now participating does not create a Congressionally designated national emblem for a national tree. Such a designation must be passed by Congress and would be an independent action from the vote now underway."
Interestingly, the most popular viewed or reviewed tree at About Forestry is Sycamore. It was not listed in the top twenty of NADF's National Tree Election.
