MARYLAND’S TALLEST NATIVE TREE SPECIES

                                                                                                                      

Stretching from bald cypress swamps on the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain to rare tamarack bogs on the Allegheny Plateau, Maryland provides varied habitats for numerous native trees.  Approximately one hundred and forty species are indigenous to the state, including about twenty small hawthorns and a few shrubs that occasionally reach tree-like proportions.  Although the nation’s first big-tree list based on a point system was devised in Maryland in 1925, the search for Maryland’s tallest trees is a recent endeavor.  The following trees are the tallest of their species accurately measured in Maryland at this time.  Some are unequalled elsewhere.   Two tuliptrees at Belt Woods are the tallest trees ever recorded in Maryland, and are the tallest eastern hardwoods known outside of the Southern Appalachian region of Tennessee and the Carolinas.

 

Although this study has concentrated on only three outstanding natural areas, a number of trees of record height have been discovered.  The South Woods of the Belt Woods Wildland is a 43-acre National Natural Landmark considered to be one of only two remnants of old-growth forest in Maryland.  Chase Creek Woods has been logged in the past, but its rich soils, deep ravines and varied ecotypes make it a significant site for champion trees.  Corcoran Woods has large examples of species typical of the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain.  No doubt additional champions will be found at other sites, but a limiting factor common to all Maryland counties is the effect of repeated logging, agricultural activities and development.  This has resulted in an extreme scarcity of old undisturbed woodlands, and a consequent shortage of intact representative habitats available for maximum height studies. 

 

The following examples of fifty-six indigenous tree species are growing in the wild, and are of natural origin.  They have been carefully measured by members of the Eastern Native Tree Society, using direct measurement or laser-based techniques, principally a laser/clinometer (sine top triangle) plus telescoping pole procedure.  Direct measurement is used for species under forty feet in height.  Additional laser-based techniques may be used in dense cover and challenging terrain.  Traditional clinometer-baseline and similar-triangle methods have proved notoriously unreliable and are not accepted.  Naturalized species are increasingly affecting the structure of Maryland woodlands; therefore, eight examples have been added.  In the interest of brevity, and to facilitate height comparisons, species are grouped by a combination of height, taxonomy and habitat.  Many state co-champions, extinct champions and dates of measurement are shown. 

 

TULIPTREE

Tuliptree    Liriodendron tulipifera                   159.9’a    12’  5.5”     South Woods (NNL), Belt Woods SW, Prince George’s Co.           Rucker 10/28/01

Tuliptree    Liriodendron tulipifera                   159.6’a    10’  7.5”     South Woods (NNL), Belt Woods SW, Prince George’s Co.             Rucker 9/30/01

Tuliptree    Liriodendron tulipifera                   157.6’a      9’  7.5”     Chase Creek Woods (site 1)(P), Arnold, Anne Arundel Co.               Rucker 4/30/00

Tuliptree    Liriodendron tulipifera                   154.6’a     15’  7.0”    Rays Pond Ravine (P), Arnold, Anne Arundel Co.                              Rucker 8/11/02

 

DOMINANTS - BEECH FAMILY  (twelve species) 

Northern red oak   Quercus rubra                    144.4’a      7’  8.5”     South Woods (NNL), Belt Woods SW, Prince George’s Co.             Rucker 11/4/01

White oak       Quercus alba                             143.7’a    11’  1.0”     South Woods (NNL), Belt Woods SW, Prince George’s Co.             Rucker 11/4/01

Black oak     Quercus velutina                         143.4’a    14’  2.0”     South Woods (NNL), Belt Woods SW, Prince George’s Co.             Rucker 11/4/01

Chestnut oak     Quercus prinus                        124.8’a     5’   6.0”    Chase Creek Woods (site 2)(P), Arnold, Anne Arundel Co.              Rucker 12/22/01

American beech    Fagus grandifolia                119.5’a   10’  3.0”     Chase Creek Woods (site 2)(P), Arnold, Anne Arundel Co.              Rucker 12/22/01

American beech    Fagus grandifolia                116.2’a     6’  4.5”     Rays Pond Ravine (P), Arnold, Anne Arundel Co.                               Rucker 8/11/02

Willow oak    Quercus phellos                          115.7’a   10’  3.0”     Corcoran Woods, Sandy Point State Park, Anne Arundel Co.             Rucker 5/10/02

Willow oak    Quercus phellos                          115.0’a     9’ 10.0”    Corcoran Woods, Sandy Point State Park, Anne Arundel Co.             Rucker 4/10/02 Southern red oak    Quercus falcata                 109.7’a   15’  9.5”      Corcoran Woods, Sandy Point State Park, Anne Arundel Co.            Rucker 4/10/02

Pin oak    Quercus palustris                             109.6’a     8’  9.0”      Corcoran Woods, Sandy Point State Park, Anne Arundel Co.              Rucker 5/8/02

Scarlet oak    Quercus coccinea                       103.2’a     7’  6.5”      Chase Creek Woods (site 3)(P), Arnold, Anne Arundel Co.                 Rucker 8/8/02

Scarlet oak      Quercus coccinea                     100.9’a     6’ 11.5”     Chase Creek Woods (site 3)(P), Arnold, Anne Arundel Co.                  Rucker 5/8/01

Scarlet oak    Quercus coccinea                       100.6’a     6’  1.0”      Chase Creek Woods (site 3) (P), Arnold, Anne Arundel Co.                 Rucker 5/8/01

Swamp chestnut oak     Quercus michauxii        95.2’a   16’  3.5”      Patuxent River above Priest Bridge, Anne Arundel Co.                        Rucker 9/30/01

Saul oak    x Quercus saulei                               49.2’a     1’  7.0”      Chase Creek Woods (site 3)(P), Arnold, Anne Arundel Co.               Rucker 7/25/02

American chestnut    Castanea dentata              49.1’a     1’  6.5”      Broadneck Hill (C), Arnold, Anne Arundel Co.                                   Rucker 9/29/02

American chestnut    Castanea dentata              46.1’a     3’  4.0”      Chase Creek Woods (site 2)(P), Arnold, Anne Arundel Co.               Rucker 5/14/00

 

DOMINANTS - WALNUT FAMILY   (five species)

Sand hickory    Carya pallida                           137.4’a     7’  7.5”      South Woods (NNL), Belt Woods SW, Prince George’s Co.            Rucker 11/4/01

Pignut    Carya glabra                                      124.1’a     5’  5.0”      Chase Creek Woods (site 1)(P), Arnold, Anne Arundel Co.               Rucker 5/23/02

Mockernut    Carya tomentosa                        118.1’a     7’  6.5”      Corcoran Woods, Sandy Point State Park, Anne Arundel Co.            Rucker 5/10/02

Mockernut    Carya tomentosa                        117.2’a     5’ 11.0”     Chase Creek Woods (site 1)(P), Arnold, Anne Arundel Co.               Rucker 5/23/02

Bitternut    Carya cordiformis                          115.9’a     7’  4.5”      Corcoran Woods, Sandy Point State Park, Anne Arundel Co.              Rucker 5/8/02

Bitternut    Carya cordiformis                          112.5’a     6’  0.5”      Rays Pond Ravine (P), Arnold, Anne Arundel Co.                              Rucker 8/11/02

Black walnut      Juglans nigra                         111.4’a     5’ 11.5”     South Woods (NNL), Belt Woods SW, Prince George’s Co.           Rucker 10/14/01

UPLAND-LOWLAND TRANSITIONAL ZONES   (six species)

American sycamore    Platanus occidentalis    132.3’a     6’  3.0”      Chase Creek Woods (site 1)(P), Arnold, Anne Arundel Co.               Rucker 5/23/02

White ash    Fraxinus americana                     132.0’a     8’  5.0”     Chase Creek Woods (site 1)(P), Arnold, Anne Arundel Co.                Rucker 4/30/00

Black gum     Nyssa sylvatica                           124.1’a     6’  5.5”      South Woods (NNL), Belt Woods SW, Prince George’s Co.           Rucker 10/28/01

Sweetgum     Liquidambar styraciflua             120.9’a     6’  6.0”      Corcoran Woods, Sandy Point State Park, Anne Arundel Co.              Rucker 4/8/02

Sweetgum     Liquidambar styraciflua             118.1’a     6’  3.5”       South Woods (NNL), Belt Woods SW, Prince George’s Co.          Rucker 10/28/01

Sweetgum     Liquidambar styraciflua             115.6’a     13’  0.5”    Corcoran Woods, Sandy Point State Park, Anne Arundel Co.            Rucker 4/10/02

Red maple    Acer rubrum                                110.3’a     7’  3.0”      Chase Creek Woods (site 3)(P), Arnold, Anne Arundel Co.               Rucker 2/24/02

Red maple    Acer rubrum                                106.9’a     4’  6.5”      Corcoran Woods, Sandy Point State Park, Anne Arundel Co.              Rucker 4/8/02

American elm    Ulmus americana                      95.3a      4’  6.0”      Corcoran Woods, Sandy Point State Park, Anne Arundel Co.            Rucker 4/10/02

 

MID-SUCCESSIONAL HARDWOODS   (four species)

Black cherry    Prunus serotina                        116.5’a    6’  7.0”       Chase Creek Woods (site 3)(P), Arnold, Anne Arundel Co.              Rucker 4/24/02 Black locust    Robinia pseudoacacia              107.8’a    6’  4.0”       Corcoran Woods, Sandy Point State Park, Anne Arundel Co.         Rucker 12/16/01 Bigtooth aspen    Populus grandidentata           99.5’a    3’ 10.5”      Broadneck Hill (C), Arnold, Anne Arundel Co.                                Rucker 12/16/01

Sassafras    Sassafras albidum                           93.7’a    2’ 11.5”     Corcoran Woods, Sandy Point State Park, Anne Arundel Co.              Rucker 4/8/02

Sassafras    Sassafras albidum                           93.1’a    4’  8.5”       Corcoran Woods, Sandy Point State Park, Anne Arundel Co.           Rucker 4/19/02

 

CONIFERS   (six species)

Shortleaf pine    Pinus echinata                         104.6’a    5’  8.0”      Chase Creek Woods (site 2)(P), Arnold, Anne Arundel Co.          Rucker 5/1/00 (sc)

Virginia pine    Pinus virginiana                          93.9’a    3’  7.0”      Broadneck Hill (C), Arnold, Anne Arundel Co.                                 Rucker 12/16/01

Loblolly pine    Pinus taeda                                 85.0’a    3’  4.0”      Corcoran Woods, Sandy Point State Park, Anne Arundel Co.            Rucker 4/10/02

Pitch pine    Pinus rigida                                     84.1’a    6’  4.5”      Corcoran Woods, Sandy Point State Park, Anne Arundel Co.            Rucker 1/29/02

Atlantic white cedar  Chamaecyparis thyoides    79.3’a    5’  2.0”      Arlington Echo Outdoor Education Center, Anne Arundel Co.            Rucker 3/22/02

Atlantic white cedar  Chamaecyparis thyoides    77.0”a   4’ 10.0”      Arlington Echo Outdoor Education Center, Anne Arundel Co.            Rucker 3/22/02

Eastern redcedar    Juniperus virginiana            55.9’a    4’  0.5”      Chase Creek Woods (site 4)(P), Arnold, Anne Arundel Co.                   Rucker 2001

 

LOWLAND ENVIRONMENTS   (six species)

Black willow    Salix nigra                                 76.8’a     2’  9.5”       Chase Creek Woods (site 3)(P), Arnold, Anne Arundel Co.               Rucker 5/15/01

River birch    Betula nigra                                  68.4’a     4’  5.5”       South Woods (NNL), Belt Woods SW, Prince George’s Co.          Rucker 10/28/01

Boxelder    Acer negundo                                  59.5’       6’  5.5”       Chase Creek Woods (site3)(P), Arnold, Anne Arundel Co.                Rucker 1/29/02

American hornbeam    Carpinus caroliniana     50.8’a     2’ 11.5”      Chase Creek Woods (site 3)(P), Arnold, Anne Arundel Co.               Rucker 5/10/00 Poison sumac    Toxicodendron vernix             29.5’b     1’  5.5”       Chase Creek Woods (site 3)(P), Arnold, Anne Arundel Co.         Rucker 5/12/00 (nc)

Hazel alder    Alnus serrulata                            27.7’b     0’  8.0”       Chase Creek Woods (site 3)(P), Arnold, Anne Arundel Co.         Rucker 5/12/00 (sc)

 

WARM RICH UPLAND EXPOSURES   (nine species)  

American holly    Ilex opaca                               69.3’a     4’  2.0”      Corcoran Woods, Sandy Point State Park, Anne Arundel Co.             Rucker 4/10/02

Persimmon    Diospyros virginiana                    66.9’a     2’  7.5”      Corcoran Woods, Sandy Point State Park, Anne Arundel Co.             Rucker 4/19/02

Red mulberry    Morus rubra                              46.4’a     2’  5.0”      Chase Creek Woods (site 3)(P), Arnold, Anne Arundel Co.                Rucker 2/13/01 Hackberry    Celtis occidentalis                         44.8’a     2’  5.5”      South Woods (NNL), Belt Woods SW, Prince George’s Co.            Rucker 10/14/01

Hercules club    Aralia spinosa                           39.1’a     1’  6.0”      Corcoran Woods, Sandy Point State Park, Anne Arundel Co.      Rucker 5/10/02 (sc) Flowering dogwood    Cornus florida                38.2’a     2’   0”         South Woods (NNL), Belt Woods SW, Prince George’s Co.           Rucker 10/14/01 Pawpaw    Asimina triloba                                36.5’b     1’  4.0”       Chase Creek Woods (site 3)(P), Arnold, Anne Arundel Co.               Rucker 2/25/02

Redbud    Cercis canadensis                             31.8’a     2’  2.5”       Chase Creek Woods (site 3)(P), Arnold, Anne Arundel Co.                  Rucker 5/4/00

Blackhaw viburnum  Viburnum prunifolium      27.5’b     1’  4.0”       Chase Creek Woods (site 2)(P), Arnold, Anne Arundel Co.                Rucker 5/26/00

 

SMALL ARBORESCENT SPECIALISTS   (seven species) 

Spicebush    Lindera benzoin                             24.4’b     0’  9.0”       Corcoran Woods, Sandy Point State Park, Anne Arundel Co.     Rucker 4/10/02 (sc)

Spicebush    Lindera benzoin                             19.0’b     0’ 11.5”      Chase Creek Woods (site 3), Arnold, Anne Arundel Co.               Rucker 5/4/02 (sc)

Winged sumac    Rhus copallina                      x 22.0’c     1’     0”      Chase Creek Woods (site 3)(P), Arnold, A.A. Co. (tree d. ca. 1996) Rucker 2/24/02 Staghorn sumac    Rhus typhina                          20.4’b     0’  9.5”      Chase Creek Woods (site 3)(P), Arnold, Anne Arundel Co.                 Rucker 8/3/01 Staghorn sumac    Rhus typhina                       x 32.9’b     1’  2.5”      Chase Creek Woods (site 3)(P), Arnold, A. A. Co. (tree died 1988)  Rucker 4/19/87

Downy serviceberry  Amelanchier arborea        19.7’b     0’  9.0”      Chase Creek Woods (site 2)(P), Arnold, Anne Arundel Co.               Rucker 5/14/00 Whorled winterberry    Ilex verticillata              18.5’b      0’  6.0”      Chase Creek Woods (site 3)(P), Arnold, Anne Arundel Co.        Rucker 5/12/00 (sc)

Mountain laurel    Kalmia latifolia                     17.5’b      0’  9.0”      Chase Creek Woods (site 2)(P), Arnold, Anne Arundel Co.               Rucker 5/14/00 Highbush blueberry  Vaccinium atrococcum     16.8’b      0’  9.0”      Corcoran Woods, Sandy Point State Park, Anne Arundel Co.     Rucker 4/10/02 (sc)

 

NATURALIZED SPECIES   (eight species)

Ailanthus    Ailanthus altissima                          91.0’a    5’  8.5”      Chase Creek Woods (site 3)(P), Arnold, Anne Arundel Co.               Rucker 4/30/03 Mazzard cherry    Prunus avium                        89.2’a     6’  4.0”      South Woods (NNL), Belt Woods SW, Prince George’s Co.            Rucker 10/7/01 Mazzard cherry    Prunus avium                        85.4’s     7’  3.0”      United Methodist Church, Arnold, Anne Arundel Co.                           Rucker 5/9/02

Paulownia     Paulownia tomentosa                  71.9’a     5’     0”      Chase Creek Woods (site 3)(P), Arnold, Anne Arundel Co.               Rucker 7/22/01

Norway maple    Acer platanoides                    59.3’a     1’ 11.5”     South Woods (NNL), Belt Woods SW, Prince George’s Co.           Rucker 10/28/01

Bradford pear    Pyrus calleryana                     40.7’a     0’ 10.0”     South Woods (NNL), Belt Woods SW, Prince George’s Co.             Rucker 11/4/01

White mulberry    Morus alba                            36.7’a     1’  7.0”      Chase Creek Woods (site 3)(P), Arnold, Anne Arundel Co.               Rucker 7/24/01

Mimosa    Albizzia julibrissin                            24.3’a     1’  9.0”      South Woods (NNL), Belt Woods SW, Prince George’s Co.             Rucker 11/4/01

Althea    Hibiscus syriacus                                19.0’b     0’  8.0”      Chase Creek Woods (site 3)(P), Arnold, Anne Arundel Co.            Rucker 1999 (nc)

 

a -  laser/clinometer (sine top) + pole measurement

b - measured with telescoping pole

c - direct measurement

s - laser/clinometer (sine top) + pole, less triangle to pole top

 

List compiled and maintained by Colby B. Rucker, corrected to May 2003.

 

(C):  County ownership

(nc):  National champion (American Forests, point system)

NNL: National Natural Landmark

(P):  Privately owned

(sc):  State champion (point system)

SW:  State Wildland