Alabama Champion Tree Program

The Alabama Champion Tree Program is a listing of the largest known specimens of particular tree species, native or introduced, in the U.S. state of Alabama. It was established in 1970 by the Alabama Forestry Commission.[1][2] The program was modeled on the National Register of Big Trees, started by the American Forests organization in 1940. The goal of Alabama's program is to record, heighten awareness of, and preserve the largest tree specimens in the state.[3] It uses the same formula for recording tree specimens that was developed by American Forests. Former champions are removed from the list as new, larger, champions are identified and recorded. Although introduced species that have naturalized are generally eligible for the program, those species that the Alabama Invasive Plant Council considers to be invasive were removed from the listing in 2011 and are no longer eligible. With the addition of 20 new specimens in 2011, the program had a total of 159 Champion Trees listed.[4]

Listings

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Key
* Introduced/non-native species
National Champion Tree on National Register of Big Trees
Co-national Champion Tree on National Register of Big Trees
Common
name
Species
name
Year
added
Trunk
circumference
Height Crown
spread
County Location / Visit
alder, hazel Alnus serrulata 2001 19 in (48 cm) 25 ft (7.6 m) 29 ft (8.8 m) Baldwin
ash, green Fraxinus pennsylvanica 2000 168 in (430 cm) 80 ft (24 m) 83 ft (25 m) Wilcox
ash, white Fraxinus americana 2008 107 in (270 cm) 103 ft (31 m) 64 ft (20 m) Wilcox
basswood Tilia spp. 2008 96 in (240 cm) 110 ft (34 m) 44 ft (13 m) Monroe
bayberry, scentless Morella inodora 2000 15 in (38 cm) 27 ft (8.2 m) 16 ft (4.9 m) Baldwin
beech, American Fagus grandifolia 2003 142 in (360 cm) 118 ft (36 m) 139 ft (42 m) Autauga
birch, sweet Betula lenta 2008 53 in (130 cm) 53 ft (16 m) 36 ft (11 m) DeKalb
blackgum Nyssa sylvatica 1988 128 in (330 cm) 108 ft (33 m) 49 ft (15 m) Elmore
buckeye, yellow Aesculus flava 1994 86 in (220 cm) 125 ft (38 m) 54 ft (16 m) Madison
bumelia, buckthorn Sideroxylon lycioides 2011 20 in (51 cm) 30 ft (9.1 m) 29 ft (8.8 m) Lauderdale
bumelia, gum Sideroxylon lanuginosum 1994 51 in (130 cm) 45 ft (14 m) 34 ft (10 m) Blount
burningbush Euonymus atropurpureus 2002 53 in (130 cm) 26 ft (7.9 m) 32 ft (9.8 m) Baldwin
butternut Juglans cinerea 2011 103 in (260 cm) 60 ft (18 m) 67 ft (20 m) Jackson
catalpa, southern Catalpa bignonioides 1994 202 in (510 cm) 58 ft (18 m) 67 ft (20 m) Perry
catalpa, southern Catalpa bignonioides 2008 200 in (510 cm) 64 ft (20 m) 68 ft (21 m) Clay
cedar, Atlantic white Chamaecyparis thyoides 2009 91 in (230 cm) 54 ft (16 m) 35 ft (11 m) Baldwin
cherry, Alabama black Prunus alabamensis 2011 40 in (100 cm) 60 ft (18 m) 40 ft (12 m) Tuscaloosa
cherry, black Prunus serotina 2009 140 in (360 cm) 71 ft (22 m) 79 ft (24 m) Madison
cherry, Carolina laurel Prunus caroliniana 2008 14 in (36 cm) 37 ft (11 m) 44 ft (13 m) Colbert
chestnut, American Castanea dentata 2009 35 in (89 cm) 58 ft (18 m) 32 ft (9.8 m) Hale
chestnut, Chinese Castanea mollissima* 1998 138 in (350 cm) 65 ft (20 m) 77 ft (23 m) Coosa
chinquapin, Allegheny Castanea pumila 2011 12 in (30 cm) 22 ft (6.7 m) 16 ft (4.9 m) Winston
cottonwood, eastern Populus deltoides 2011 146 in (370 cm) 121 ft (37 m) 73 ft (22 m) Chambers
cottonwood, swamp Populus heterophylla 2010 74 in (190 cm) 61 ft (19 m) 41 ft (12 m) Baldwin
crabapple, southern Malus angustifolia 2002 59 in (150 cm) 39 ft (12 m) 27 ft (8.2 m) Montgomery
crape myrtle, common Lagerstroemia indica* 2011 78 in (200 cm) 43 ft (13 m) 33 ft (10 m) Wilcox
crape myrtle, common Lagerstroemia indica* 2008 78 in (200 cm) 40 ft (12 m) 38 ft (12 m) Shelby
cypress, bald Taxodium distichum 1989 326 in (830 cm) 112 ft (34 m) 56 ft (17 m) Baldwin Via watercraft only. Tours Available
cypress, pond Taxodium ascendens 2010 90 in (230 cm) 97 ft (30 m) 42 ft (13 m) Baldwin
cyrilla, swamp Cyrilla racemiflora 1996 42 in (110 cm) 45 ft (14 m) 38 ft (12 m) Mobile
devilwood Osmanthus americanus 2001 24 in (61 cm) 36 ft (11 m) 25 ft (7.6 m) Baldwin
dogwood, flowering Cornus florida 2009 70 in (180 cm) 38 ft (12 m) 53 ft (16 m) Cleburne
elm, American Ulmus americana 2008 185 in (470 cm) 97 ft (30 m) 82 ft (25 m) Walker
elm, September Ulmus serotina 2011 59 in (150 cm) 94 ft (29 m) 49 ft (15 m) Lauderdale
elm, Siberian Ulmus pumila* 1982 61 in (150 cm) 48 ft (15 m) 49 ft (15 m) Madison
elm, slippery Ulmus rubra 2011 163 in (410 cm) 54 ft (16 m) 80 ft (24 m) Cullman
elm, water Planera aquatica 1982 58 in (150 cm) 51 ft (16 m) 55 ft (17 m) Covington
elm, winged Ulmus alata 1997 130 in (330 cm) 75 ft (23 m) 70 ft (21 m) Wilcox
fringetree, white Chionanthus virginicus 2010 29 in (74 cm) 18 ft (5.5 m) 31 ft (9.4 m) Tuscaloosa
hackberry, common Celtis occidentalis 2009 176 in (450 cm) 67 ft (20 m) 93 ft (28 m) Marshall
hackberry, Georgia Celtis tenuifolia 2007 37 in (94 cm) 54 ft (16 m) 31 ft (9.4 m) Perry
hawthorn, dotted Crataegus punctata 1994 13 in (33 cm) 26 ft (7.9 m) 18 ft (5.5 m) Madison
hawthorn, littlehip Crataegus spathulata 2009 14 in (36 cm) 21 ft (6.4 m) 18 ft (5.5 m) DeKalb
hemlock, eastern Tsuga canadensis 1992 157 in (400 cm) 130 ft (40 m) 44 ft (13 m) Winston
Hercules-club Zanthoxylum clava-herculis 2007 43 in (110 cm) 43 ft (13 m) 33 ft (10 m) Dallas
Hercules-club Zanthoxylum clava-herculis 2005 30 in (76 cm) 59 ft (18 m) 29 ft (8.8 m) Baldwin
hickory, bitternut Carya cordiformis 2011 68 in (170 cm) 82 ft (25 m) 46 ft (14 m) Lauderdale
hickory, mockernut Carya tomentosa 2008 100 in (250 cm) 97 ft (30 m) 86 ft (26 m) Jackson
hickory, nutmeg Carya myristiciformis 2009 69 in (180 cm) 89 ft (27 m) 38 ft (12 m) Dallas
hickory, pignut Carya glabra 1992 155 in (390 cm) 110 ft (34 m) 76 ft (23 m) Clarke
hickory, red Carya ovalis 2004 36 in (91 cm) 85 ft (26 m) 38 ft (12 m) Perry
hickory, sand Carya pallida 2010 85 in (220 cm) 76 ft (23 m) 23 ft (7.0 m) Cherokee
hickory, shagbark Carya ovata 2008 92 in (230 cm) 119 ft (36 m) 67 ft (20 m) Etowah
hickory, shellbark Carya laciniosa 2007 102 in (260 cm) 112 ft (34 m) 90 ft (27 m) Madison
hickory, water Carya aquatica 2001 152 in (390 cm) 136 ft (41 m) 78 ft (24 m) Baldwin
holly, American Ilex opaca 1987 126 in (320 cm) 50 ft (15 m) 47 ft (14 m) Chambers
holly, dahoon Ilex cassine 2007 38 in (97 cm) 47 ft (14 m) 37 ft (11 m) Baldwin
hophornbeam, eastern Ostrya virginiana 2008 37 in (94 cm) 55 ft (17 m) 39 ft (12 m) DeKalb
hoptree Ptelea trifoliata 2011 15 in (38 cm) 16 ft (4.9 m) 17 ft (5.2 m) Jackson
hornbeam, American Carpinus caroliniana 2011 31 in (79 cm) 56 ft (17 m) 38 ft (12 m) Bibb
hornbeam, American Carpinus caroliniana 2008 41 in (100 cm) 46 ft (14 m) 37 ft (11 m) Baldwin
locust, black Robinia pseudoacacia 1995 95 in (240 cm) 102 ft (31 m) 27 ft (8.2 m) Madison
locust, honey Gleditsia triacanthos 2009 90 in (230 cm) 107 ft (33 m) 67 ft (20 m) Talladega
magnolia, bigleaf Magnolia macrophylla 2008 60 in (150 cm) 85 ft (26 m) 44 ft (13 m) Monroe
magnolia, cucumber Magnolia acuminata 1993 136 in (350 cm) 112 ft (34 m) 59 ft (18 m) Madison
magnolia, pyramid Magnolia pyramidata 2011 41 in (100 cm) 92 ft (28 m) 24 ft (7.3 m) Wilcox
magnolia, southern Magnolia grandiflora 1987 190 in (480 cm) 75 ft (23 m) 71 ft (22 m) Calhoun
magnolia, sweetbay Magnolia virginiana 2010 140 in (360 cm) 91 ft (28 m) 63 ft (19 m) Baldwin
magnolia, umbrella Magnolia tripetala 2011 27 in (69 cm) 45 ft (14 m) 20 ft (6.1 m) Calhoun
maple, ashleaf Acer negundo 2011 150 in (380 cm) 60 ft (18 m) 17 ft (5.2 m) Jackson
maple, chalk Acer leucoderme 2008 43 in (110 cm) 51 ft (16 m) 36 ft (11 m) Wilcox
maple, Florida Acer floridanum 2010 80 in (200 cm) 82 ft (25 m) 32 ft (9.8 m) Lowndes
maple, red Acer rubrum 2009 131 in (330 cm) 87 ft (27 m) 67 ft (20 m) Morgan
maple, sugar Acer saccharum 2008 130 in (330 cm) 80 ft (24 m) 64 ft (20 m) Madison
mayhaw Crataegus aestivalis 2007 20 in (51 cm) 20 ft (6.1 m) 22 ft (6.7 m) Baldwin
mulberry, red Morus rubra 2009 254 in (650 cm) 60 ft (18 m) 50 ft (15 m) Choctaw
mulberry, white Morus alba* 2007 195 in (500 cm) 38 ft (12 m) 53 ft (16 m) DeKalb
oak, Arkansas Quercus arkansana 1991 43 in (110 cm) 55 ft (17 m) 39 ft (12 m) Autauga
oak, black Quercus velutina 1992 242 in (610 cm) 80 ft (24 m) 94 ft (29 m) Macon
oak, blackjack Quercus marilandica 1997 121 in (310 cm) 72 ft (22 m) 49 ft (15 m) Barbour
oak, bluejack Quercus incana 1994 65 in (170 cm) 53 ft (16 m) 27 ft (8.2 m) Chilton
oak, bluff Quercus austrina 200 96 in (240 cm) 92 ft (28 m) 47 ft (14 m) Baldwin
oak, bur Quercus macrocarpa 1990 116 in (290 cm) 59 ft (18 m) 75 ft (23 m) Montgomery
oak, cherrybark Quercus pagoda 1999 248 in (630 cm) 115 ft (35 m) 144 ft (44 m) Bibb
oak, chinkapin Quercus muehlenbergii 2011 136 in (350 cm) 133 ft (41 m) 82 ft (25 m) Lauderdale
oak, darlington Quercus hemisphaerica 2009 243 in (620 cm) 95 ft (29 m) 102 ft (31 m) Hale
oak, Durand Quercus sinuata var. sinuata 2020[5] 180 in (460 cm) 90 ft (27 m) 95 ft (29 m) Greene
oak, laurel Quercus laurifolia 2010 285 in (720 cm) 95 ft (29 m) 127 ft (39 m) Marengo
oak, live Quercus virginiana 2013 363 in (920 cm) 82 ft (25 m) 136 ft (41 m) Mobile Intersection of Highway 43 & Dead Lake Road
oak, myrtle Quercus myrtifolia 2007 26 in (66 cm) 35 ft (11 m) 30 ft (9.1 m) Baldwin
oak, northern red Quercus rubra 2009 127 in (320 cm) 125 ft (38 m) 93 ft (28 m) Marion
oak, nuttall Quercus texana 2000 178 in (450 cm) 114 ft (35 m) 102 ft (31 m) Madison
oak, overcup Quercus lyrata 1984 247 in (630 cm) 139 ft (42 m) 109 ft (33 m) Marengo
oak, post Quercus stellata 2010 195 in (500 cm) 88 ft (27 m) 79 ft (24 m) Montgomery
oak, post Quercus stellata 2010 194 in (490 cm) 86 ft (26 m) 84 ft (26 m) Coosa
oak, sand live Quercus geminata 1998 185 in (470 cm) 56 ft (17 m) 104 ft (32 m) Mobile
oak, sand post Quercus margaretta 1982 106 in (270 cm) 68 ft (21 m) 83 ft (25 m) Covington
oak, sawtooth Quercus acutissima* 1997 90 in (230 cm) 101 ft (31 m) 97 ft (30 m) Barbour
oak, scarlet Quercus coccinea 2011 168 in (430 cm) 115 ft (35 m) 94 ft (29 m) Jackson
oak, shingle Quercus imbricaria 2004 152 in (390 cm) 68 ft (21 m) 102 ft (31 m) Lawrence
oak, shumard Quercus shumardii 2008 234 in (590 cm) 90 ft (27 m) 117 ft (36 m) Bullock
oak, southern red Quercus falcata 1987 329 in (840 cm) 73 ft (22 m) 106 ft (32 m) Pike
oak, swamp chestnut Quercus michauxii 2007 280 in (710 cm) 120 ft (37 m) 113 ft (34 m) Cleburne
oak, swamp white oak Quercus bicolor 2007 119 in (300 cm) 90 ft (27 m) 30 ft (9.1 m) Madison
oak, white Quercus alba 2003 210 in (530 cm) 100 ft (30 m) 110 ft (34 m) Montgomery
oak, willow Quercus phellos 2004 251 in (640 cm) 68 ft (21 m) 86 ft (26 m) Marshall
osage-orange Maclura pomifera 1990 284 in (720 cm) 88 ft (27 m) 67 ft (20 m) Greene
pawpaw, common Asimina triloba 1997 31 in (79 cm) 55 ft (17 m) 10 ft (3.0 m) Randolph
pear, European Pyrus communis* 2003 77 in (200 cm) 57 ft (17 m) 40 ft (12 m) Chilton
pecan Carya illinoinensis 1999 228 in (580 cm) 118 ft (36 m) 134 ft (41 m) Conecuh
persimmon, American Diospyros virginiana 2003 80 in (200 cm) 122 ft (37 m) 47 ft (14 m) Lauderdale
pine, loblolly Pinus taeda 1998 169 in (430 cm) 134 ft (41 m) 91 ft (28 m) Bullock
pine, pond Pinus serotina 2000 98 in (250 cm) 128 ft (39 m) 45 ft (14 m) Barbour
pine, sand Pinus clausa 2008 60 in (150 cm) 45 ft (14 m) 33 ft (10 m) Baldwin
pine, shortleaf Pinus echinata 2008 129 in (330 cm) 91 ft (28 m) 56 ft (17 m) Madison
pine, slash Pinus elliottii 2010 95 in (240 cm) 72 ft (22 m) 49 ft (15 m) Baldwin
pine, spruce Pinus glabra 1996 147 in (370 cm) 125 ft (38 m) 86 ft (26 m) Russell
pine, Virginia Pinus virginiana 2009 71 in (180 cm) 93 ft (28 m) 31 ft (9.4 m) DeKalb
plum, American Prunus americana 2007 26 in (66 cm) 19 ft (5.8 m) 22 ft (6.7 m) Elmore
plum, Chickasaw Prunus angustifolia 2007 19 in (48 cm) 17 ft (5.2 m) 19 ft (5.8 m) Baldwin
plum, flatwoods Prunus umbellata 2010 20 in (51 cm) 22 ft (6.7 m) 25 ft (7.6 m) Baldwin
privet, eastern swamp Forestiera acuminata 1995 19 in (48 cm) 36 ft (11 m) 24 ft (7.3 m) Madison
redbud, eastern Cercis canadensis 2000 86 in (220 cm) 36 ft (11 m) 34 ft (10 m) Limestone
red-cedar, eastern Juniperus virginiana 1979 169 in (430 cm) 51 ft (16 m) 30 ft (9.1 m) Wilcox
red-cedar, southern Juniperus silicicola 2001 167 in (420 cm) 50 ft (15 m) 45 ft (14 m) Baldwin
sassafras Sassafras albidum 1992 140 in (360 cm) 67 ft (20 m) 36 ft (11 m) Dallas
serviceberry, downy Amelanchier arborea 2009 24 in (61 cm) 40 ft (12 m) 18 ft (5.5 m) DeKalb
silverbell, Carolina Halesia carolina 2011 42 in (110 cm) 63 ft (19 m) 39 ft (12 m) Randolph
silverbell, two-winged Halesia diptera 1998 40 in (100 cm) 78 ft (24 m) 33 ft (10 m) Wilcox
smoketree, American Cotinus obovatus 2010 58 in (150 cm) 64 ft (20 m) 37 ft (11 m) Madison
sourwood Oxydendrum arboreum 2009 65 in (170 cm) 87 ft (27 m) 39 ft (12 m) Marion
sparkleberry Vaccinium arboreum 2007 47 in (120 cm) 28 ft (8.5 m) 41 ft (12 m) Choctaw
sugarberry Celtis laevigata 1994 221 in (560 cm) 82 ft (25 m) 36 ft (11 m) Barbour
sumac, smooth Rhus glabra 2011 12 in (30 cm) 21 ft (6.4 m) 11 ft (3.4 m) Jackson
sweetgum, American Liquidambar styraciflua 1990 161 in (410 cm) 75 ft (23 m) 66 ft (20 m) Coosa
sweetgum, American Liquidambar styraciflua 2011 135 in (340 cm) 95 ft (29 m) 86 ft (26 m) Montgomery
sweetleaf Symplocos tinctoria 2009 25 in (64 cm) 63 ft (19 m) 20 ft (6.1 m) Marion
sycamore, American Platanus occidentalis 2010 182 in (460 cm) 115 ft (35 m) 102 ft (31 m) Montgomery
tulip tree Liriodendron tulipifera 1974 252 in (640 cm) 153 ft (47 m) 73 ft (22 m) Lawrence
tupelo, water Nyssa aquatica 2007 237 in (600 cm) 112 ft (34 m) 88 ft (27 m) Madison
walnut, eastern black Juglans nigra 1973 199 in (510 cm) 76 ft (23 m) 97 ft (30 m) Colbert
willow, black Salix nigra 2009 144 in (370 cm) 74 ft (23 m) 66 ft (20 m) Perry
yellowwood, American Cladrastis kentukea 2010 28 in (71 cm) 48 ft (15 m) 28 ft (8.5 m) Jackson

References

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  1. ^ "Champion Trees of Alabama 2012" (PDF). Alabama Forestry Commission. State of Alabama. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 13, 2014. Retrieved March 13, 2013.
  2. ^ Kirkman, L. Katherine; Brown, Claude L.; Leopold, Donald J. (2007). Native Trees of the Southeast. Portland, Oregon: Timber Press. ISBN 978-0-88192-828-0.
  3. ^ "Champion Tree Program". Alabama Forestry Commission. State of Alabama. Retrieved April 26, 2012.
  4. ^ "New Champion Trees for 2011 Announced by Alabama Forestry Commission". Alabama Media Portal. State of Alabama. Archived from the original on December 13, 2011. Retrieved April 26, 2012.
  5. ^ "Durand Oak (Quercus sinuata var. sinuata)". American Forests. 2020-09-30. Retrieved 2021-03-25.