Maryland's Big Tree Program
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Photo from Maryland DNR
Fred Besley was Maryland’s first forester, serving from 1906 to 1942. He developed the formula used today to measure trees:
Circumference in inches +
Height in feet +
¼ of the average crown spread =
TOTAL POINTS
Mr. Besley's Forest
Mr. Besley's Forest
1. Big Tree Champions from Frederick County
1. Big Tree Champions from Frederick County
1.1. National Champions
1.1. National Champions
The Maryland Big Tree Program has been in place for a number of years.
Frederick County is the proud owner of a co-champion Boxelder (coded BT-3260 in the Big Tree program and AF-6396 with American Forests).
This magnificent National Champion Boxelder is 69 feet high and has a crown spread of 84 feet. It is located on private property.
1.2. State Champions
1.2. State Champions
Dogwood
Credit: Claude Eans & Steve Thrasher Board Members
The Frederick County champion Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) recently measured by members of the Frederick County Forest Conservancy District Board (Claude Eans, Steve Thrasher) and recognized by the Maryland Big Tree program of as a 'tri-State Champion'. The Frederick tree is the largest at 122 points, but there are two trees in Montgomery at 119 and 118 points that are considered to "share" the championship. If the Frederick tree had been just a little taller, it would have owned the championship outright.
CIRCUMFERENCE: FEET: 6’ 6” HEIGHT: 31’
AVERAGE CROWN WIDTH: 52.5’ x 50.5’ = 51.5’
Eastern Cottonwood
The Eastern Cottonwood, located at Middletown High School. To learn more about this local champion see the Gazette.Net article entitled ' Middletown tree towers over others in Maryland '.
Pecan Tree
Frederick County shares the title of Maryland State Co-Champion pecan tree with Anne Arundel County (trees are considered co-champions if they are within 5 points of each other). The pecan tree shown below is located in Frederick city See the recent article in the Frederick News-Post entitled "Pecan tree ties for biggest in state" for more information about the co-champion pecan tree in Frederick County.
Sycamore
MBTP Volunteer Coordinator John Bennett standing next to Maryland State Champion sycamore in Union Bridge MD.
1.3. County Champions
1.3. County Champions
Bitternut Hickory
Mr. and Mrs. Zittle of Thurmont measure the circumference of the Bitternut Hickory. This tree is the second largest hickory tree in Maryland.
Black Birch
The largest Sweet/Black Birch tree in Frederick County was recently measured and recorded as the second largest within the entire state. Picture and statistics supplied by John Bennett.
Frederick County champion Sweet/Black Birch
NAME: Sweet/Black Birch
LATIN: Betula lenta
CIRCUMFERENCE: FEET: 8’ 2” INCHES: 98"
HEIGHT: 116’
AVERAGE CROWN WIDTH: 80.5’
LOCATION/APPEARANCE/HEALTH OF TREE: near Gate R3 on Epic Loop trail. Tree is very healthy look with no apparent rot or dieback.
Black Oak
Credit: Keith Schoonover, Board Member
Frederick County Big Tree Champion Black Oak belongs to Board Chair Keith Schoonover of Smithsburg.
CIRCUMFERENCE: FEET: 14’ 0” INCHES: 168” HEIGHT: 117’
AVERAGE CROWN WIDTH: 69’
Black walnut
On October 20, 2016, a Buckeystown black walnut tree (Juglans nigra) was designated a Frederick County Big Tree Champion. The 106' tall tree is shown below. At a total of 276 points, this black walnut tree is #10 in the state and the largest of its kind in Western Region.
Eastern Hemlock
County champion eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), located on private property in the City of Frederick. Big Tree program number 2383
English Elm
The County Champion English Elm pictured below is located on the grounds of Frederick High School. Recorded measurements are: circumference = 17 ft. 10 inches, height = 95 feet, average crown spread= 95 feet.
Credit: Jim Arnold, Board Member
Frederick County Forestry Board member Jim Arnold stands near the base of the National Champion English Elm.
Hackberry
Frederick County Champion and the 4th largest hackberry in the state was found in Jefferson MD.
Holly
Frederick County Champion Holly - Jefferson
Northern Red Oak
Credit: Keith Schoonover, Board Member
Frederick County Big Tree Champion Northern Red Oak belongs to Board Chair Keith Schoonover of Smithsburg.
CIRCUMFERENCE: FEET: 14’ 7” HEIGHT: 97.5’
AVERAGE CROWN WIDTH: 59’
Silver Maple
Frederick County Champion is the Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum).
CIRCUMFERENCE: FEET: 18’ 11” HEIGHT: 103’
AVERAGE CROWN WIDTH: 92.5"
LOCATION/APPEARANCE/HEALTH OF TREE: This Walkersville tree has multiple leaders; tree has a significant cavity where leader broke off. Crown looks good, tree house in tree.
Sugar Maple
The owners of this county champion sugar maple (Acer saccharum) estimate it has been growing on their property for over 90 years. Big tree program number 2381.
Swamp White Oak
This Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor) replaces the previous county champion. It is located at the far end of River Bend Park, 1775 Monocacy Boulevard in the City of Frederick, behind the soccer fields by the Monocacy River. Photo Dori Murphy
Tulip Poplar
The Frederick County champion tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) with its hollowed trunk is located on private property. Big tree program 2377.
Redbud
Frederick county champion found in Ballenger Creek Park.
American Elm
Along with holding the title of current county champ, this American elm (Ulmus americana) has the largest crown spread of any American elm in the big tree registry, and is the second largest of its type in Maryland. It is located in Memorial Park in the City of Frederick. Big tree program number 2385.
Weeping willow
Weeping willow (Salix babylonica) are a common sight along Carroll Creek in the City of Frederick, but this one, located near the bridge at N. College Street in Baker Park, is the largest, and the county champion. Big tree program number 2384.
White Ash
The Frederick County Champion White Ash located in Myersville. It has a circumference of 17 feet 5 inches, height of 78 feet, and an average crown spread of 79.5 feet.
White Oak
Credit: Adam Fried, Braddock Heights, MD
Frederick County’s champion white oak tree has grown in Braddock Heights for an estimated 350 years. To learn more see the article in the FNP entitled "Casting a broad shadow: Braddock Heights white oak makes state registry". (Photo by Adam Fried)
2. Big Tree Measurements
2. Big Tree Measurements
Six members of the Frederick County Forest Conservancy District Board have recently been measuring trees in Frederick County for the Maryland Big Tree registry. Soon qualifying new entrants from our county will be displayed on our Big tree program page. (Photo by Ginny Brace)
On December 8, 2015 six members of the Board continued measuring big trees. Shown above is a Ginkgo tree in the backyard of a Frederick city townhouse that will be nominated as a candidate for consideration as a county big tree. (Photo by Tyson Rose)
Credit: Steve Thrasher, Board Member
Board member Steve Thrasher measures a Horse Chestnut in downtown Frederick.
Credit: Steve Thrasher,, Matthew Witmer, Claude Eans, Board Members
Board members Steve Thrasher (left) and Claude Eans (right) along with Matthew Witmer (Frederick County Government Intern) measure a swamp oak in Walkersville.
Credit: Matthew Witmer, Board Members
Matthew Witmer (Frederick County Government Intern) stand before a large black locust in Thurmont.
3. Board Members Measures 14 Champion Trees
3. Board Members Measures 14 Champion Trees
On April 3, 2012 Michelle Donahue of the Frederick County Forest Conservancy District Board and other volunteers measured 14 trees that have become Frederick County champion trees. Read the Frederick News-Post article entitled "Fourteen new Big Tree champions in county" (shown below) to learn more details. The article was written by John Bennett of the Big Tree Champions of Maryland.
4. Nominate a tree
4. Nominate a tree
Do you know of a very large tree in Frederick County and want to nominate as a local champion? You can get the nomination form from the MD Big Tree website. Submit the completed forms to the Frederick County Board electronically at frederick@forestryboard.org or you can mail the form to:
Frederick County Forest Conservancy District Board
Atten: Big Tree Program
8602 Gambrill Park Road
Frederick, MD 21702
5. National Big Tree Program
5. National Big Tree Program
John Bennett, Head of the Maryland Big Tree Program, recommends Great Eastern Trees, Past and Present as an extensive article on the Maryland Big Trees by Dr. Colby Rucker back in 2004--just before Dr. Rucker passed away unexpectedly. It is the definitive resource about big trees in Maryland.
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