September 6, 2006

OHIO IS HOME TO NATIONAL CHAMPION BUCKEYES
BOTH THE TREE AND FOOTBALL VARIETY!
Nation’s largest Ohio buckeye tree stands in Huron County

COLUMBUS, OH - In a year when the Ohio State Buckeyes are aiming for a national championship in college football, it’s important to note the state is also home to the national champion Ohio buckeye tree, according to American Forests, a conservation organization based in Washington D.C. American Forests catalogs the nation’s “Big Trees,” the largest examples of 826 tree species in the country.

Standing a full 77-feet high, with a crown spread of 64 feet and a trunk circumference of 140 inches, the largest Ohio buckeye tree in the United States is located on private property in Huron County, about a mile south of Fitchville on State Route 13.

“The tree is easily glimpsed from the highway, but it is on private property and we caution anyone anxious to snap a photo or otherwise get up close to keep that fact in mind,” said Dan Balser, a forester with ODNR’s Big Tree Program.

National champion trees are “crowned,” based on a formula that awards points for height, circumference and crown spread. Trees within five points are considered co-champions.

Ten other national champion “Big Trees” grow in Ohio, including an Oriental arborvitae and common persimmon, both near Portsmouth in Scioto County; Kentucky coffeetree near Madison in Lake County; Siberian elm near Londonderry in Ross County; cucumbertree magnolia near North Canton in Stark County; Norway maple near Gambier in Knox County; chinkapin oak near Marietta in Washington County; shingle oak, two-wing silverbell, and yellowwood all near Cincinnati in Hamilton County.

For additional information on Ohio’s Big Trees, visit ohiodnr.com or americanforests.org.

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For additional news online, check out the ODNR Press Room at Ohiodnr.com

For Further Information Contact:
Jane Beathard, ODNR Media Relations
(614) 265-6860
Dan Balser, ODNR Division of Forestry
(614) 265-7053