Florida's Champion Trees Registry
How a tree gets named a state or national champion, and which ones live in our service area.
PUBLISHED May 13, 2026
A 'champion tree' is the largest known living specimen of its species in a given geography. The Florida Champion Tree program — run by the Florida Forest Service — maintains a registry of the biggest known specimens of every native and naturalized species in the state. American Forests maintains a parallel national registry.
The biggest live oaks in Florida are 30+ feet in circumference. The biggest bald cypress are over 1,000 years old. Most of them grow on protected land, but a few are in publicly accessible spots in or near our service area.
How a tree gets named champion
Trees are scored on a point system combining trunk circumference (at 4.5 ft above ground), total height, and average crown spread. The current state champion of each species is the highest-scoring measured specimen. Anyone can nominate a tree by submitting measurements and photos to the Florida Forest Service. New nominations are measured and verified by foresters before the registry updates.
Champions in or near SW Florida
- The Senator (cypress) — a 3,500-year-old bald cypress in Big Tree Park (Seminole County) — was the state champion before being destroyed by arson in 2012. Its offspring ("Phoenix") was propagated and replanted.
- Cellon Oak (Alachua County) — one of the largest live oaks in Florida, north of our service area but worth the drive.
- Lake Helen Champion Live Oak (Volusia County) — registered champion with 25+ foot circumference.
- Many heritage live oaks in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, and Lee counties — some unregistered champions in private hands.
Why this matters for your property
If you have a mature live oak that seems unusually large, it may be a champion candidate — measurable, nominatable, and worth registering. Champion designation provides some additional public visibility but no direct legal protection. The practical benefit is documentation: a measured, registered tree has a verified record that's useful for heritage designation, insurance documentation, and future ownership transitions.
We measure trees for champion nomination on request. Takes about 30 minutes per tree, and the registration is free.
Frequently asked.
How big does a tree need to be to be a champion?
Champion status is relative — it's whoever's biggest, not a fixed threshold. Currently the Florida state champion live oak is in the 30+ foot circumference range. State champion bald cypress is similar. For smaller species, much smaller trees can hold champion status. The Florida Forest Service publishes current measurements for every registered species.
Does champion status protect a tree?
Not legally — champion designation is informational, not regulatory. However, champion trees are often (1) already protected by local heritage-tree ordinances because of their size, and (2) more carefully maintained because of the recognition. The protection is indirect but real.
Can I nominate a tree on my own property?
Yes. Anyone can nominate a tree. The Florida Forest Service provides nomination forms and the methodology. If you think you have a contender, photograph the tree from multiple angles, measure the trunk circumference at 4.5 feet above ground level, and submit. New nominations get measured and verified by a state forester before the registry updates.
Got a question on your specific tree?
Articles are useful, but a real photo bid gets you a species-specific answer for your property in writing.