WASHINGTON, Ark.—A catalpa residing at Historic Washington State Park was recently declared a top tree in Arkansas.
Park superintendent Joe Buckley says the tree was designated by the Arkansas Forestry Commission as a state champion. “It literally has to be the biggest of the species,” Buckley said.
That “biggest” designation is computed through something called the bigness index score, he explained, a number derived from the circumference, crown spread, and height of the tree.
“Obviously, they like the environment. Maybe it’s the subtropical environment. Maybe it’s the sandy soil,” Buckley said about several factors associated with the catalpa’s healthy growth.
Catalpas seem to like the area because the park has several impressive ones, including Northern catalpas, he said. According to Historic Washington State Park, the tree is likely to be about 179 years old.
This particular catalpa makes its fertile home near 1836 Hempstead County Courthouse and Boyette House.
It has been designated as the Mail Carrier Smith Catalpa, named for mail carrier John H. Smith who, way back in the 1830s, brought catalpa tree seeds back from near the Red River to grow in Washington.
Other attractive trees popular to see at the park include the Royston Magnolia (planted around 1845); this magnolia is one of the state’s largest. The park is also home to what’s called the Moon Tree, a Loblolly pine that sprang from seeds carried on Apollo 14.
Buckley observed that when trees are big and healthy the park simply lets them be and protects them from construction or erosion, also watching for any undue insect damage.
“Occasionally, we’ll have an arborist come out and give it a checkup, if you will,” Buckley said. But they’ll leave “well enough alone unless the trees are becoming damaged.”
He said Historic Washington is putting together a brochure on some of the significant natural aspects of this historic village, including its champion tree.
(More info: HistoricWashingtonStatePark.com.)
Park superintendent Joe Buckley says the tree was designated by the Arkansas Forestry Commission as a state champion. “It literally has to be the biggest of the species,” Buckley said.
That “biggest” designation is computed through something called the bigness index score, he explained, a number derived from the circumference, crown spread, and height of the tree.
“Obviously, they like the environment. Maybe it’s the subtropical environment. Maybe it’s the sandy soil,” Buckley said about several factors associated with the catalpa’s healthy growth.
Catalpas seem to like the area because the park has several impressive ones, including Northern catalpas, he said. According to Historic Washington State Park, the tree is likely to be about 179 years old.
This particular catalpa makes its fertile home near 1836 Hempstead County Courthouse and Boyette House.
It has been designated as the Mail Carrier Smith Catalpa, named for mail carrier John H. Smith who, way back in the 1830s, brought catalpa tree seeds back from near the Red River to grow in Washington.
Other attractive trees popular to see at the park include the Royston Magnolia (planted around 1845); this magnolia is one of the state’s largest. The park is also home to what’s called the Moon Tree, a Loblolly pine that sprang from seeds carried on Apollo 14.
Buckley observed that when trees are big and healthy the park simply lets them be and protects them from construction or erosion, also watching for any undue insect damage.
“Occasionally, we’ll have an arborist come out and give it a checkup, if you will,” Buckley said. But they’ll leave “well enough alone unless the trees are becoming damaged.”
He said Historic Washington is putting together a brochure on some of the significant natural aspects of this historic village, including its champion tree.
(More info: HistoricWashingtonStatePark.com.)