N.C. Forest Service - North Carolina's Champion Trees
While all trees are great, a select few deserve special attention and recognition by virtue of their grandeur, their great size. Finding North Carolina’s Champion trees begins with you. Go find a potential champion and nominate the tree!
Since the 1970s, the North Carolina Champion Tree Program has recognized and celebrated the state's largest trees. Some of those trees have achieved even greater status by qualifying for the National Champion Tree Registry.
We are excited to inform you that the program is undergoing a comprehensive review including program and tree eligibility policies, an inspection of each Champion tree and the development of a new online platform. The N.C. Champion Tree list posted below is the list of current champions.
How does a tree become a Champion tree?
Any tree that meets the eligibility criteria has the potential to become a champion. To achieve that, a candidate must be found, scored, nominated and verified by N.C. Forest Service staff. Finally, the tree must have the highest point score among its nominated peers to become a champion. If multiple trees have scores within 10 points of one another, they become cochampions.
Eligible Trees of North Carolina
- Native trees of North America
- Introduced trees that are not invasive
Trees classified as a “Rank 1 – Severe Threat” or “Rank 2 – Significant Threat” on the N.C. Invasive Plants list will not be granted champion status.
Scoring a tree requires taking measurements of the tree. The following are the measurements and how a tree is scored.
| Measurement | Unit of Measure |
|---|---|
| Average Crown Spread Points -- Take two perpendicular measurements of the crown spread in feet, divide by four and round to the nearest whole number. | Feet |
| Trunk Circumference Points -- Measure the circumference of the trunk in inches at 4-1/2 feet above grade and round to the nearest inch. | Inches |
| Tree Height Points -- Measure the height of the tree in feet and round to the nearest foot. | Feet |
| Total Points -- Sum the points for the total score. | Score |
Nominating a Tree
- Complete a Champion Tree Nomination Form (see below). If you need assistance, please reach out to your local N.C. Forest Service county office.
- Submit the completed form and three images of the three to your county ranger.
- The nomination will be verified and submitted for review.
- You will be notified of the nomination decision regardless of the outcome.
We encourage you to seek out impressive trees of North Carolina and use the resources below to learn more about them. We look forward to reviewing your nominations and celebrating the champion trees of North Carolina with you!
References
- Search trees by species or common name online using the Flora of the Southeastern United States Web App (2025 edition, Weakly, A.S. and Southeastern Flora Team)
- N.C. Invasive Plants List (N.C. Invasive Plant Council)
- The PLANTS Database (U.S. Department of Agriculture)
Documents
This page was last modified on 05/02/2025