Tree Notes is about trees -- especially native trees, trees for wildlife, and trees in history.

Thursday, November 8, 2007

Champion white oaks

Kentucky's champion white oak compared to past and present national champions


The current champion white oak for the state of Kentucky grows in Logan County, a couple counties east of where I live. It is 270 inches in circumference (about 22.5 feet.) It's height is 94 feet and the spread of its crown is 104 feet. With 390 points, it ranks as one of the biggest trees in my state -- a "monster" of a white oak in our day!

I'm a bit disappointed that no photograph of this champion white oak is available on the Kentucky's Big Tree Program website.

Wye OakThe Wye Oak of Maryland was the champion white oak of the nation for many years. A windstorm took it down in 2002. Its circumference was well over 31 feet. It was 96 feet in height and the spread of its crown was 115 feet. It was awarded an amazing 508 points for its overall size. At the time of its demise, it was estimated to be over 450 years old.

The photograph of the Wye Oak at right was taken by E.H. Pickering, in December of 1936. The image is part of the Historic American Buildings Survey on the Library of Congress website.

The current champion white oak for the nation grows in the Lawrenceville, Virginia, area. It has been awarded 427 points. It is 86 feet tall and 32 feet in diameter. If there's a photograph of it on the internet, I haven't found it yet.

Related:
The Wye Oak Gallery

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Enrich your life with the study of trees.

"The power to recognize trees at a glance without examining their leaves or flowers or fruit as they are seen, for example, from the car-window during a railroad journey, can only be acquired by studying them as they grow under all possible conditions over wide areas of territory. Such an attainment may not have much practical value, but once acquired it gives to the possessor a good deal of pleasure which is denied to less fortunate travelers."

Charles Sprague Sargent (1841-1927)

Print references I frequently consult

Benvie, Sam. Encyclopedia of North American Trees. Buffalo, NY: Firefly, 2000.

Brockman, C. Frank. Trees of North America: A Guide to Field Identification. Ed. Herbert S. Zim. New York: Golden, 1986.

Cliburn, Jerry, and Ginny Clomps. A Key to Missouri Trees in Winter: An Identification Guide. Conservation Commission of the State of Missouri, 1980.

Collingwood, G. H., Warren David Brush, and Devereux Butcher. Knowing Your Trees. Washington: American Forestry Association, 1978.

Dirr, Michael. Dirr's Hardy Trees and Shrubs: an Illustrated Encyclopedia. Portland, Or.: Timber, 1997.

Elias, Thomas S. The Complete Trees of North America; Field Guide and Natural History. New York: Book Division, Times Mirror Magazines, 1980.

Grimm, William Carey. The Book of Trees;. Harrisburg, PA: Stackpole, 1962.

Hightshoe, Gary L. Native Trees, Shrubs, and Vines for Urban and Rural America: a Planting Design Manual for Environmental Designers. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1988.

Little, Elbert L. National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees. New York: Chanticleer, 1996.

Martin, Alexander C., Herbert S. Zim, and Arnold L. Nelson. American Wildlife and Plants. New York: McGraw Hill, 1951.

Mitchell, Alan F., and David More. The Trees of North America. New York, NY: Facts On File Publications, 1987.

Randall, Charles E. Enjoying Our Trees. Washington: American Forestry Association, 1969.

Settergren, Carl D., and R. E. McDermott. Trees of Missouri. Columbia: University Extension, 1995.

Sternberg, Guy, and James W. Wilson. Native Trees for North American Landscapes: from the Atlantic to the Rockies. Portland: Timber, 2004.

Wharton, Mary E., and Roger W. Barbour. Trees and Shrubs of Kentucky. Lexington: University of Kentucky, 1973.

Wyman, Donald. Trees for American Gardens. New York: Macmillan, 1965.

Photos and text copyright © 2006-2013 by Genevieve L. Netz. All rights reserved. Do not republish without written permission. My e-mail address is gnetz51@gmail.com