Somewhere in North East Texas a new Champion Water Oak tree has been discovered! Its canopy is over 100’ in diameter and its root structure elevates the ground around it at least 12”. With a circumference of 22’ 4” at waist height we believe this isn’t just the New Texas Champion but the New National Champion. Which would also make this the Largest known Water Oak in the world. Its estimated age is over 500 years old; this Tree was 250 years old during our Americas Revolution . It has seen so much history and survived some of the greatest moments in time. Dating back to 1525 AD it was alive during Christopher Columbia’s voyages , it survived the European conquest , the American Civil war , WWI , WWII , the Industrial Revolution, the list goes on and on and on. This is more than just a tree this is American History.
That's a big one, for sure. Surprised it lived that long, knowing how prone water oak is for center rot.
I drove by a very old growth white oak yesterday and thought of this thread. It had been in the front yard of an old colonial era saltbox style house that had been taken down many years ago, but the tree remained. Huge trunk with the full "mushroom" canopy. Kind of an empty lot bordering a shopping area/movie theatre. All overgrown and abandoned. Its been for sale for years and finally sold. I saw the tree was trimmed back on one side (ruined the look IMO) before the current storage units were put in. The pavement came close to the tree and sadly I think its dying as lots of the upper limbs are bare. Been driving by the tree my whole life. Almost part of the towns history and has to be over 200 years old. I had mentioned this tree to Eric Wanderweg a couple years ago when we were talking of state champion trees. Was there a thread on this Eric? I might have posted pics.
