Putting Illinois’ Big Trees on the Map
I Remember My First State Champion Tree
I vividly remember encountering my first state champion tree in 2018. The eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides) at the Bryon Forest Preserve District’s Bald Hill Prairie Preserve had just been named the Illinois state champion tree.
It stayed with me enough that I’ve tracked down some other state champions, including the bald cypress (Taxodium distichum), which was the state champ for years before the cottonwood bumped it down (the latest scoring is 493-486).
Updating the Illinois Big Tree Register
I found the cypress on a paddle through the Cache River State Natural Area in Pulaski County in 2022. So of course I went to Christopher David Benda’s morning session on “Updating the Illinois Big Tree Register” at the biannual Wild Things conference in March at the Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont.
The sold-out conference, which has grown to be as sprawling as that cottonwood, was overwhelming with somewhere around 2,400 people and a load of information from more than 100 session options spread over seven time frames. I’ll do more on the sessions in the future, including on AI and conservation.
About Christopher David Benda
Benda, a southern Illinois botanist and something of a rock star in Illinois’ natural world, coordinates the Plants of Concern Southern Illinois Program for the Chicago Botanic Garden, conducts rare plant surveys for the Shawnee National Forest and teaches “The Flora of Southern Illinois” at Southern Illinois University. Not to mention he’s a good photographer and a social media presence (Illinois Botanizer). He has an extensive collection of plant photos and listings on his website, illinoisbotanizer.com.
In recent years, with the help of a grant from the Illinois Forestry Development Council, he has been tidying up the IBTR, including trying to tighten up where the trees are. To nominate a tree, you need coordinates. Trees may be on public or private land.
A New Champion Emerges
Even standing far away, it is hard to encompass the size of the eastern cottonwood, the biggest tree in the Illinois Big Tree Register.
The Illinois champion cottonwood was nominated by Todd Tucker, executive director of the Byron Forest Preserve District since 2008. It is well-deserved honor. I think it is worth the drive, especially if you combine it with another stop at one of the public areas along the Rock River.
Other State Champions
There is also a national register. Illinois has two national champs, both in DuPage County: Ohio buckeye (Aesculus glabra) inside the circle drive at the Hyatt Lodge in the old McDonald’s campus and a Kansas hawthorn (Crataegus coccinioides) at Morton Arboretum.
On Wednesday, I went to find the Ohio buckeye and was justly rewarded with a massive sprawling tree that looked as battered as a heavyweight boxer at the end of 12 rounds. Just magnificent inside a decidedly urban circle of blacktop. Now, I’m inspired to find more champions.
Exploring More Champions
There’s a red elm in a Palos cemetery I want to see for starters. And I may adapt one of Benda’s moves, which is to give the champion trees hugs. Though considering the size of some of them (it would take about eight of me to hug the cottonwood champ), I think of the hug as more of a pat on the back.
To learn more about IBTR, go to https://extension.illinois.edu/forestry, especially check out the interactive map of IBTR champions.
Conclusion
Putting Illinois’ big trees on the map is an ongoing process, and I’m excited to explore more champions and share my findings with you.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the Illinois Big Tree Register (IBTR)?
The IBTR is a list of the largest known trees in Illinois, recognized by their species and size. - Who is Christopher David Benda?
Christopher David Benda is a southern Illinois botanist and naturalist who coordinates the Plants of Concern Southern Illinois Program for the Chicago Botanic Garden. - How can I nominate a tree for the IBTR?
To nominate a tree, you need to provide coordinates and information about the tree’s species and size. The tree may be on public or private land. - Where can I find more information about the IBTR?
You can find more information about the IBTR on the University of Illinois Extension’s website, especially the interactive map of IBTR champions.
