Leaves: Alternate, simple, deciduous 2 to 4” long, 1 to 3” wide, ovate or oval with rounded base and acute apex. Leaf margins entire, and color a lustrous green above, paler beneath, and a petiole about 1” long.

LOCATION

Owner: University of Georgia Dairy Farm
Nominated by: Jeff Kastle & Beryl Budd
Accessible: Yes, Hwy. 78 near the Ogelthorpe County line
This is the Georgia State Champion



Notes: One of our more outstanding native trees best suited for large areas as a specimen tree with consistently beautiful summer and fall color. In residential areas, it also serves well as a street tree. As trees mature, their natural horizontal and sometimes pendulous branching stand out as recognition features along with the almost black and blocky bark. The species has commercial value as pulp wood, plywood and commercial veneers, cross ties, woodenware and cooperage (barrels). Much like red maple, blackgum is found throughout the temperate zones of the northern hemisphere.

Bark: Light gray to brown, blocky with an alligator skin appearance, but this varies as the species has a widely diverse appearance throughout the country.

« For massive amounts of data on this tree. »