Tree Information
Common Name: Chinaberry
Scientific Name: Melia azedarach
Native/Naturalized: Naturalized
Database ID: 1241
Status: not top 3
National Champion: no
Virginia Champion: no
Circumference: 98 in.
Height: 40 ft.
Crown: 50 ft.
Points: 151
Date Last Measured: 2022
Last Measured by: Stuart and Ben Blankenship
Date First Measured: 2007
Comments:
2022 update: Old aged tree that remains in overall good condition for its age. It has a really interesting shape. Since it was last measured, it has continued to push out new growth. The tree has lost one of its main leaders in the past, and there is a significant area of decay between a couple of the stems on the left side. This tree contains about ten different stems that separate from the main trunk a couple inches from the ground. In the past a tape was wrapped around the area below where the leaders separate, but due to how the tree is formed, the better way to measure it would be to measure each of the stems individually. The girth of the seven largest stems of the tree were: 62"", 54"", 54"", 46"", 42"", 40"", 27"". A judgement was made that the smallest four of these stems are secondary root suckers that developed later in the tree's life. For a fair comparison with other specimens of this species, the decision was made to only include the three largest stems in the calculation of composite trunk circumference.
2021 update: This tree has been dethroned as national champion by American Forests because its species is no longer eligible.
2018 update: Declared national champion in 2018. Tree is located in Blandford Cemetery, one of the oldest and largest in America, which is the resting place of some 30,000 Confederate soldiers who lost their lives during the Siege of Petersburg. The tree has pushed up and toppled a grove stone dated 1882.
2017 update: Tree is in good health and one old stem has been replaced by healthy new ones. Tree has increased in size since its last measurement. The circumference is significantly larger likely due to previous error in measurement. The tree splits at 2 feet above the ground so it was measured below the split.
Tree was previously measured at 204"" circumference, 35' height, and 46' crown, totaling 251 points in 2017 by Stuart and Ben Blankenship. Measured by Carmean in 2007 at 121"", 50', 43', 182 points.
Location of Tree
Tree is located in: City of Petersburg
Land Owner: Blandford Church and Cemetery
GPS Coordinates: 37.227336, -77.387009
Directions: Go past the visitor's center and take a left onto the intersecting street. Tree is at the bottom of the small hill from the intersection. It is on the right side of Mcilwaine Avenue and is about ten feet off the side of the road. Located on public-city property.
Owner Address: 111 Rochell Lane
Petersburg, VA 23803
Owner Phone: 804-733-2396
Contact Information
Contact Name: Byron Carmean
Contact Email: rockplantrn@gmail.com
Contact Address: 3616 Labrador Lane
Suffolk, VA 23434
Contact Phone: 757-934-0588
Nominators
Original Nominator(s): Byron Carmean and Gary Williamson
Additional Information
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