Alabama Champion Tree Program facts for kids
The Alabama Champion Tree Program is a cool project in Alabama that finds and lists the biggest trees in the state! It was started in 1970 by the Alabama Forestry Commission. The idea came from a similar program called the National Register of Big Trees, which began in 1940.
The main goal of Alabama's program is to find, keep track of, and protect these amazing giant trees. They use a special way to measure trees to see if they are "champions." If a new, bigger tree is found, it takes the place of the old champion. Trees that are not native to Alabama but have grown well here can be champions. However, starting in 2011, trees that are considered invasive (meaning they spread too easily and harm other plants) are no longer allowed on the list. In 2011, the program had 159 Champion Trees listed, with 20 new ones added that year!
Champion Tree Listings
This section shows you some of the amazing champion trees found in Alabama. You'll see their common names, scientific names, when they were added to the list, and their measurements.
|
|
|
| * | This tree is an introduced species, meaning it's not native to Alabama. |
| † | This tree is also a National Champion Tree on the National Register of Big Trees. |
| ‡ | This tree shares the title of National Champion Tree on the 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† | 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 |
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
Alabama Champion Tree Program Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.