In 1940, the American Forest Foundation launched a nationwide search for the largest specimen of each tree species in the United States. Today, more than 500 trees are recognized as national champions. The National Champion Tree Program, now managed by the University of Tennessee maintains this prestigious list.
The National Champion Tree program highlights the largest known trees of their kind. Kentucky is proud to have several trees recognized as national champions or co-champions.
The Kentucky Champion Tree Program was established by the Division of Forestry in 1968, initially recognizing 51 species. Today, the list has grown to over 100 champion trees found across the state, from Pike County in the east to Fulton County in the west. Only trees listed in Trees & Shrubs of Kentucky by Mary E. Wharton and Roger W. Barbour are eligible for the program. The list is continually updated as new champions are discovered, and existing ones are replaced when they are lost or surpassed by a larger specimen.
Kentucky has several trees on theNational Champion Tree Program list.
Species Without State Champions:
Ash, green (Fraxinus pennsylvanica)
Chestnut, dwarf (Castanea pumila)
Cottonwood, swamp (Populus heterophylla)
Dogwood, silky (Cornus amomum)
Dogwood, rough-leaf (Cornus drummondi)
Elm, slippery (Ulmus rubra)
Elm, water (Planera aquatica)
Fringe-tree (Chionanthus virginicus)
Gum, Tupelo (Nyssa aquatica)
Hackberry, smooth (sugarberry) (Celtis laevigata)
Hawthorn, cockspur thorn (Crataegus crus-galli)
Hawthorn, Washington (Crataegus phaenopyrum)
Hazelnut, American (Corylus americana)
Oak, black (Quercus velutina)
Pear, common (Pyrus communis)
Plum, wild (Prunus americana)
Willow, heart-leaf (Salix rigida)
Witch-Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)
Yew, American (Taxus canadensis)