What Makes a Tree a Champion?In simple terms, a Champion Tree is the largest specimen of that species. Individual Champions vary by size, age and growth habitat. As a general rule, forest trees of equal age will be taller, thinner and have a smaller crown compared to counterparts grown in more open environments. A slow-growing White Oak with a girth of 17' and a height of 100' may be over 300 years old, while a faster-growing Black Locust can reach old age and champion size within 100 years. Since Champion Trees are strictly rated by size, a standard system of measurement and scoring is used. The total score of a tree is determined by adding together three values – the circumference or girth (in inches), the height (in feet) and 25% of the average crown spread (in feet). Add these three values together and high score wins! Circumference (CBH) is normally measured at breast height – 4 ½ ft. above the ground. Basic instruction on how to measure and score a tree may be found on the American Forests website. List of Arlington County Champion Trees| Common name | Genus species | Recognition (key) | Location (ownership) | Score |
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| Ash, Green | Fraxinus pennsylvanica | CC | Barcroft Park (ARL) | 254 | | Ash, White | Fraxinus americana | CCC | Lyon Village Community Park (P) | 249 | | Ash, White | Fraxinus americana | CCC | Lyon Village Community Park (P) | 250 | | Aspen, Bigtooth | Populus grandidentata | SC | 5073 26th St. N. (P) | 212 | | Azalea, Wild | Rhododendron periclymenoides | CC | Long Branch Park (ARL) | 20 | | Basswood | Tilia americana | CC | 4644 24th St. N. (P) | 275 | | Beech, American | Fagus grandifolia | CC | Gulf Branch Park (ARL) | 290 | | Birch, River | Betula nigra | SC5 | 2607 N. Stuart St. (P) | 246 | | Birch, River | Betula nigra | SC2 | Barcroft Park (ARL) | 266 | | Birch, River | Betula nigra | SC2 | Barcroft Park (ARL) | 266 | | Boxelder | Acer negundo | CC | 2666 N. Military Rd. (P) | 230 | | Buttonbush | Cephalanthus occidentalis | SC4 | Roaches Run Waterfowl Sanctuary (NPS) | 36 | | Butternut | Juglans cinerea | SC4 | Fort Bennett Park (ARL) | 224 | | Cedar, Deodar | Cedrus deodara | SC5** | 2369 N. Taylor St. (P) | 249 | | Cherry, Black | Prunus serotina | CC | Arlington Cemetery (DOD) | 277 | | Chestnut, American | Castanea dentata | CC | Potomac Overlook Park (NVRPA) | 69 | | Chinkapin, Allegheny | Castanea pumila | CC | Gulf Branch Park (ARL) | 34 | | Coffeetree, Kentucky | Gymnocladus dioicus | CC | 1424 N. McKinley Rd. (P) | 215 | | Cottonwood, Eastern | Populus deltoides | CC | Shirlington Park (ARL) | 307 | | Deerberry | Vaccinium stamineum | SC | G.W. Parkway (NPS) | 29 | | Dogwood, Alternate-leaved | Cornus alternifolia | SC | Fort C.F. Smith Park (P) | 55 | | Dogwood, Flowering | Cornus florida | CC | 4133 N. 33rd. St. (P) | 89 | | Dogwood, Silky | Cornus amomum | SC4 | Pimmit Run Park (NPS) | 24 | | Dogwood, Silky | Cornus amomum | SC3 | Pimmit Run Park (NPS) | 26 | | Elm, American | Ulmus americana | CC | 708 S. Lincoln St. (P) | 340 | | Gum, Black | Nyssa sylvatica | CC | Benjamin Banneker Park (ARL) | 269 | | Hackberry, Common | Celtis occidentalis | SC2 | 1431 N. Filmore St. (P) | 298 | | Hackberry, Dwarf | Celtis tenuifolia | CC | Fort C.F. Smith Park (P) | 62 | | Hazelnut, American | Corylus americana | SC | Fort C.F. Smith Park (P) | 47 | | Hemlock, Eastern | Tsuga canadensis | SC2 | Lacey Woods Park (ARL) | 285 | | Hickory, Bitternut | Carya cordiformis | CC | Roaches Run Waterfowl Sanctuary (NPS) | 185 | | Hickory, Mockernut | Carya tomentosa | SCC | Arlington House Historical Site (NPS) | 232 | | Hickory, Pignut | Carya glabra | CCC | 2450 N. Jefferson St. (P) | 262 | | Hickory, Pignut | Carya glabra | CCC | Cherry Valley Park (ARL) | 264 | | Hickory, Sweet Pignut | Carya ovalis | CCC | Arlington Cemetery (DOD) | 230 | | Hickory, Sweet Pignut | Carya ovalis | CCC | Glencarlyn Park (ARL) | 231 | | Holly, American | Ilex opaca | CC | 3575 Roberts Lane (ARL) | 159 | | Hornbeam, American | Carpinus caroliniana | SC5 | Arlington Cemetery (DOD) | 109 | | Locust, Black | Robinia pseudoacacia | SC3 | 905 N. Harrison St. (P) | 272 | | Magnolia, Sweetbay | Magnolia virginiana | CC | Barcroft Park (ARL) | 79 | | Magnolia, Umbrella | Magnolia tripetala | SC4 | Pimmit Run Park (VA) | 107 | | Magnolia, Umbrella | Magnolia tripetala | SC3 | 3435 Robert's Lane (P) | 110 | | Maple, Red | Acer rubrum | CC | Upton Hill Park (NVRPA) | 286 | | Maple, Silver | Acer saccharinum | CC | Parkhurst Park (ARL) | 335 | | Mulberry, Red | Morus rubra | CC | Powhatan Springs Skate Park (ARL) | 162 | | Oak, Black | Quercus velutina | CC | 2415 N. Lincoln St. (P) | 332 | | Oak, Blackjack | Quercus marilandica | SC5 | Fairlington Community Center (ARL) | 137 | | Oak, Blackjack | Quercus marilandica | SC4 | 302 N. Irving St. (P) | 152 | | Oak, Blackjack | Quercus marilandica | SC | 1700 Army Navy Drive (P) | 207 | | Oak, Chestnut | Quercus prinus | SC5 | Bluemont Park (ARL) | 337 | | Oak, Northern Red | Quercus rubra | SC5 | Windy Run Park (ARL) | 338 | | Oak, Northern Red | Quercus rubra | SC4 | 2923 24th St. N. (P) | 341 | | Oak, Overcup | Quercus lyrata | CC | 1221 N. Powhatan St. (P) | 222 | | Oak, Pin | Quercus palustris | SC2 | Arlington Cemetery (DOD) | 323 | | Oak, Pin | Quercus palustris | SC | 1700 Army Navy Drive (P) | 344 | | Oak, Post | Quercus stellata | CC | 5163 Washington Blvd. (ARL) | 241 | | Oak, Saul's | Quercus saulii (alba x prinus) | SC | Zachary Taylor Park (ARL) | 326 | | Oak, Sawtooth | Quercus acutissima | SC2** | Arlington Cemetery (DOD) | 212 | | Oak, Sawtooth | Quercus acutissima | SC** | 2221 S. Buchanan St. (P) | 222 | | Oak, Scarlet | Quercus coccinea | CC | Lee Community Center (ARL) | 291 | | Oak, Scarlet | Quercus coccinea | SC5 | Chestnut Hills Park (ARL) | 294 | | Oak, Southern Red | Quercus falcata | CC | 5220 11th Rd. North (P) | 323 | | Oak, Swamp Chestnut | Quercus michauxii | CC | Nina Park (ARL) | 232 | | Oak, Swamp White | Quercus bicolor | CC | Bluemont Park (ARL) | 268 | | Oak, Water | Quercus nigra | SC5 | Arlington Cemetery (DOD) | 282 | | Oak, White | Quercus alba | CCC | 830 23rd. St. S. (P) | 320 | | Oak, White | Quercus alba | CCC | N. 16th St. (ARL) | 322 | | Oak, White | Quercus alba | CCC | Arlington Cemetery (DOD) | 325 | | Oak, Wildenow's | Quercus x wildenowiana | CC | 6000 N. 27th St. (P) | 347 | | Oak, Willow | Quercus phellos | CC | Arlington Cemetery (DOD) | 392 | | Pawpaw | Asimina triloba | CC | Roaches Run Waterfowl Sanctuary (NPS) | 52 | | Persimmon | Diospyros virginiana | CC | Arlington Cemetery (DOD) | 166 | | Pine, Longleaf | Pinus palustris | CC | 631 S. Quincy St. (P) | 145 | | Pine, Pitch | Pinus rigida | CC | 6027 26th St. N. (P) | 169 | | Pine, Shortleaf | Pinus echinata | CC | Gulf Branch Park (ARL) | 144 | | Pine, Virginia | Pinus virginiana | SC2 | Lacey Woods Park | 183 | | Pine, Virginia | Pinus virginiana | SC1 | Lacey Woods Park | 190 | | Pine, White | Pinus strobus | CC | 1617 N. Buchanan St. (P) | 247 | | Redbud, American | Cercis canadensis | CC | Federal Highway Admin. | 117 | | Redcedar, Eastern | Juniperus virginiana | CCC | Fort C.F. Smith Park (P) | 142 | | Redcedar, Eastern | Juniperus virginiana | CCC | Arlington Cemetery (DOD) | 143 | | Redwood, Dawn | Metasequoia glyptostroboides | SC** | 3260 N. Ohio St. (P) | 351 | | Royal Paulownia | Paulownia tomentosa | SC** | Arlington Cemetery DoD | 291 | | Sassafras | Sassafras albidum | SC5 | Pimmit Run Park (NPS) | 192 | | Serviceberry, Allegheny | Amelanchier laevis | CC | Bon Air Park (ARL) | 79 | | Shadbush, American | Amelanchier arborea | CC | Gulf Branch Park (ARL) | 78 | | Sourwood | Oxydendrum arboreum | CC | 2659 34th St. N. (P) | 116 | | Sumac, Poison | Toxicdendron vernix | CC | Barcroft Park (ARL) | 32 | | Spicebush, American | Lindera benzoin | SC3 | Fort C.F. Smith Park (P) | 40 | | Sweetgum | Liquidambar styraciflua | CC | 4011 N. 26th. St. (P) | 242 | | Sycamore, American | Platanus occidentalis | CC | 4819 15th St. N. (P) | 386 | | Tuliptree | Liriodendron tulipifera | CC | Fort C.F. Smith Park (P) | 412 | | Viburnum, Blackhaw | Viburnum prunifolium | SC4 | Lubber Run Park (ARL) | 52 | | Viburnum, Blackhaw | Viburnum prunifolium | SC3 | Arlington Cemetery (DOD) | 62 | | Viburnum, Blackhaw | Viburnum prunifolium | SC2 | Arlington Cemetery (DOD) | 69 | | Walnut, Black | Juglans nigra | CC | Westover Park (ARL) | 281 | | Willow, Black | Salix nigra | CC | Bluemont Park (ARL) | 184 | | Witchhazel | Hamamelis virginiana | CCC | Glencarlyn Park (ARL) | 36 | | Witchhazel | Hamamelis virginiana | CCC | Glencarlyn Park (ARL) | 39 | | Yellowwood | Cladrastis kentukea | SC3** | 3325 N. Kensington St. (P) | 165 | | Yellowwood | Cladrastis kentukea | SC** | Arlington Cemetery (DOD) | 214 |
Ownership Abbreviations| Arlington County (ARL) | Department of Defense (DOD) | | National Park Service (NPS) | Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority (NVRPA) | | State of Virginia (VA) | Private Property (P) |
Champion Tree Recognition Status Key| SC | State Champion | SCC | State Co-Champion | SC2 | 2nd largest in the State | | SC3 | 3rd largest in the State | SC4 | 4th largest in the State | SC5 | 5th largest in the State | | CC | County Champion | CCC | Co-County Champion | | | * two trees scored within five points of each other are considered co-champions
** non-native species |
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View an interactive map of tree locations.
Please respect the property rights of private
tree owners, and view from the street,
sidewalk or other public areas.
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