Virginia Big Tree News

New State Champions

  • Kashi holly (Ilex chinensis) Carmean and Williamson 8/18/09
  • Glory bower (Clerodendron trichotomum) Byron and Jean Carmean and Gary Williamson 7/18/09
  • Himalayan white pine (Pinus wallichiana) Carmean, Kirwan and Williamson 5/12/09
  • Kentucky coffeetree (Gymnocladus dioicus) Carmean, Kirwan and Williamson 5/12/09
  • Japanese holly (Ilex crenata) Carmean, Kirwan and Williamson 5/12/09
  • Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) Carmean, Kirwan and Williamson 5/12/09
  • Little leaf linden (Tilia cordata) Carmean, Kirwan and Williamson 5/12/09
  • Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus) Carmean and Williamson 5/13/09
  • Glossy buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula) Carmean and Williamson  5/13/09
  • Smoke tree (Cotinus coggygria) Carmean and Williamson 5/13/09
  • Parsley hawthorn (Crataegus marshallii)Nominated by Carmean and Williamson
  • Miyabe maple (Acer miyabei) Nominated by Carmean, Kirwan and Williamson 5/12/09
  • Sycamore maple  (Acer pseudoplatanus)  Nominated by Carmean, Kirwan and Williamson 5/12/09
  • Shantung maple (Acer truncatum) Nominated by Carmean, Kirwan and Williamson 5/12/09
  • Maritime pine (Pinus pinaster)  Nominated by Carmean, Kirwan and Williamson 5/12/09
  • Pistache (Pistacia atlantica)  Nominated by Carmean, Kirwan and Williamson 5/12/09
  • Chinese pistache (Pistacia chinensis)  Nominated by Carmean, Kirwan and Williamson 5/12/09
  • Hardy rubber tree (Eucommia ulmoides) Nominated by Carmean, Kirwan and Williamson 5/12/09
  • Table mountain pine (Pinus pungens) Nominated by Carmean, Kirwan and Williamson 5/12/09
  • False quince (Pseudocydonia sinensis)  Nominated by Carmean, Kirwan and Williamson  5/12/09
  • Arizona cypress (Cupressus arizonica) Nominated by Carmean, Kirwan and Williamson  5/12/09
  • Japanese umbrella pine (Sciadopitys verticillata) Nominated by  Carmean, Kirwan and Williamson 5/12/09
  • Star magnolia (Magnolia stellata) Nominated by Greg Zell and John Noelle 4/1/09
  • Pawpaw (Asimina triloba), 82 points (new state champ) nominated by Bob Vickers, Fairfax County 3/7/09
  • Hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana), 129 points (new state champ) nominated by Bob Vickers, Fairfax County 3/7/09
  • Water hickory (Carya aquatica), 313 points (new state champ) nominated by Carmean, Williamson, Clonts and Rasnake, Southampton County 3/1/09
  • Cornelian cherry dogwood, (Cornus mas) (new co-champion) nominated by Carmean and Williamson, Sweetbrier College, Amherst 8/20/08
 

 

New Potential National Champs

  • Rock elm, Ulmus thomasii 366 points. This tree on the Roanoke college campus was initially identified as an American elm, but was recently determined to be a rock elm.
  • Rusty blackhaw (Viburnum rufidulum) 97 points. This tree was formerly thought to be V. prunifolium, but will remain a national champion as a new species. 8/13/09
  • Osage-orange (Maclura pomifera) 414 points. This tree will replace the famous Osage-orange at Red Hill Shrine, home of Patrick Henry, as national champion. 8/13/09
  • Tree of heaven ( Ailanthus altissima) 311 points, Jean & Byron Carmean, Gary Williamson, Charlie & Hilda Wilson. 6/27/09
  • Pawpaw (Asimina triloba) 82 points, Robert Vickers 2009
  • Pawpaw (Asimina triloba) 78 points, Robert Vickers 2008
  • Swamp dogwood (Cornus foemina) 58 points, Carmean and Williamson 5-20-09
  • American snowbell (Styrax americana) 38 points, Carmean and Williamson 2009
  • American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana) Carmean, Kirwan and Williamson  5/12/09
  • Black ash (Fraxinus nigra) Carmean, Kirwan and Williamson  5/12/09
  • Green hawthorn ( Crataegus viridis), 122 points, (ties current national champ) nominated by Carmean, Williamson, Kessler and Rasnake, Greensville County 3/7/09
  • Water tupelo (Nyssa aquatica), 590 points, (exceeds current national champ and the largest tree in Virginia) nominated by Carmean, Williamson, Kessler and Rasnake, Greensville County 3/7/09
  • Rose of sharon (Hibiscus syriacus), 69 points (new state and prospective national champion) nominated by Carmean and Williamson, Cumberland 8/20/08
  • 12 additional champions have been nominated for 2010- winged elm, waxmyrtle, silktree, popcorn tree (2), painted buckeye (2), chinaberry, cranberrybush (3), eastern baccharis, Frase fir.

 

Fallen Champs

  • The state champion shagbark hickory, from Lee County and nominated by Harold Jerrell, came down this summer (August 2009). It was featured in Remarkable Trees of Virginia.
  • Loudoun County buckeye, nominated as Aesculus sylvatica, and listed as a national champion, was determined to be a hybrid:  A. flava x (pavia x sylvatica). Therefore, it has been deleted from the database. 6/18/09
  • Williamsburg pawpaw, (Asimina triloba), National Champion (tree split into two)
  • Baldcypress, (Taxodium distichum), State champion 8/11/08 was lost to building construction, on the campus of William and Mary. 8/28/09.
 

 

Big Trees Without Champs

  • Slippery elm
  • Franklinia
  • Peach
  • American elder
  • Washington hawthorn
 

 

Status of Virginia Trees in 2008 National Register

  • 56 national champions in the registry
  • States with the most national champs: Arizona (94), Florida (86), California (82), Texas (72) and Virginia (56)
  • States with the most new champs in 2008: Virginia (37)

 
Back to Virginia Big Trees