Big and Remarkable Trees of Virginia Tree Discussion Board


This page is designed to help big and remarkbale tree searchers share information about Virginia's biggest trees. The big tree program recognizes the largest speciemns of each tree species in Virginia. the remarkbale tree program recognizes trees that are remarkbale for their age, beauty, historic significance and/or uniqueness. Contact Jeff Kirwan, jkirwan@vt.edu, to participate. Click here to search the big tree database.

List of trees to be featured in Remarkable Trees of Virginia, available in bookstores September, 2008.


Big tree species without champs

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

Status of Virginia Trees in the 2008 National Register of Big Trees

56 national champions in the registry
11 additional champions have been nominated for 2010- winged elm, waxmyrtle, silktree, popcorn tree (2), painted buckeye (2), chinaberry, cranberrybush (3)
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)
Complete list of national champions from Virginia

New and fallen champions


July 24, 2008. The state champion black maple in Fincastle, Botetourt County blew down in a storm yesterday. The story was covered by WDJB7 out of Roanoke. A black maple in Rockbridge County, nominated by DOF Forester, Karen Stanley, is the new champ.

June 10, 2008. The three largest hemlocks on record were confirmed dead in 2007, killed by the invasive hemlock wooly adelgid. Two very large trees, along Pond Drain below Mountain Lake, were discovered by Tom McAvoy and measured by big tree intern Mason Patterson. They are the current co-champions.

GPS Coordinates

Please provide GPS coordinates for all new nominations and re-measurements. Please set GPS receivers to NAD 83 map datum. If you are using NAD 27, there will be an additional 80 ft. error to your coordinates. If you are using a Garmin Etrex, go to the MAP page and scroll down to SETUP, then to UNITS. Search the map datum choices and select NAD83.

Big Tree Volunteer Description


The Virginia Big Tree Program is looking for Virginia Master Naturalist volunteers to verify and update trees listed and nominated to the Virginia Big Tree database. Trees that have not been measured in the last 10 years need to be located, confirmed dead or alive, photographed, re-measured (circumference, height and crown spread), contact information updated, and GPS location recorded. Newly nomianted trees need to be verified as to species, measured, and entered into the database. Big trees are located thoughout Virginia, so volunteers may work in their own community, or statewide if they desire. Communicating with homeowners, local foresters and arborists will be required. Training and equipment (clinometer and GPS on loan) will be provided. More information

Big Tree volunteer Training


Virginia Tech Forestry Professor Jeff Kirwan will lead a series of training sessions for Master Naturalists in the fall, 2007. Volunteers will learn how to measure height, circumference and crown spread of trees, how to use a clinometer to measure height, how to obtain and record a GPS waypoint, and how to use the on-line database to obtain information about big and remarkable trees in Virginia. Jeff will also describe efforts to record the Commonwealth's historic and community trees, and how volunteers can help in the process.

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Last modified 7/24/08 1:27 PM by jkirwan (history)
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