Tree Information

Common Name: yellow buckeye

Scientific Name: Aesculus flava

Native/Naturalized: Native to Virginia

Database ID: 1245

Status: dead

National Champion: no

Virginia Champion: no

Circumference: 295 in.

Height: 81 ft.

Crown: 56 ft.

Points: 390

Date Last Measured: 2017

Last Measured by: David Formella, Harry Van Guilder, and Eric Wiseman

Date First Measured: 2007

Comments:
2024 update: The tree had been declining for several years. A visit by John Peterson and Alex Adams in April 2024 found that about 70% of the crown was dead. Although the tree may linger in life for several more years, it has lost considerable crown height and crown spread and thus no longer merits an active listing in the big tree register.
2017 update: The canopy is very thin and the crown has lost significant branches over the years. Its survival is quite tenuous. Score has decreased, likely due to an overestimate of height in 2007 (laser hypsometer used in 2017) and decline of crown spread due to competition from invasives.
2007 update: This tree was declared a national champion in 2007. The property it occupies was acquired in 1970 by the US Forest Service. The trunk is hollow with an opening on the south side with room for about 3-4 people to stand inside. The tree has to be periodically monitored for an assortment of vines that want to creep up its trunk. There has also been an assortment of volunteer trees that have sprouted around its base, including boxelder and hackberry. Tree is in a relatively protected location. Greatest size: 296" circumference, 94' height, 69' crown, and totaling 407 points.

Top images: J.Peterson, April 2024. Bottom image: E.Wiseman, August 2017.

Location of Tree

Tree is located in: Alleghany

State Map


Land Owner: U.S. Forest Service

GPS Coordinates: 37.79303, -79.759237

Owner Email: Mailroom_R8_George_Washington_Jefferson@fs.fed.us

Directions: James River Ranger District. Just east of Iron Gate, near the confluence of the Cowpasture River and James River, where state route 633 crosses over the Cowpasture River. Tree is situated right next to a parking area for public access to the river (Evans Tract Boat Ramp).

Owner Address: 810A East Madison Street

Covington, Virginia 24426

Owner Phone: 540-962-2214


Contact Information

Contact Name: Dan Miles

Contact Email: miles.d@lynchburg.edu

Contact Address: Claytor Nature Study Center, Lynchburg College

Contact Phone: 434-661-8362

Contact Info: Previous contact and measurer: Keith A. Carson, PhD Land Steward Allegheny Highlands Office The Nature Conservancy, Virginia Chapter 12181-A Courthouse Hill Rd. Warm Springs, VA 24484 540-839-3599 kcarson@tnc.org


Nominators

Original Nominator(s): Dan Miles


Additional Information

I.D. Fact Sheet

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