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Out in the world · Illinois

Illinois
champion trees.

Remarkable trees, a place to begin. Explore the register, get to know the species, and bring a little attention outdoors.

124 listed records124 records with map points57 Library species represented

The register behind the map

Dates, sources & coverage.

Illinois Extension register · retrieved October 8, 2026

124 records are included in this imported selection. 124 have approximate map points; 0 remain searchable without a marker. Multiple trees can share one town or county point.

Register editions, retrieval dates, and individual measurement dates describe different things. This snapshot does not confirm current tree condition. Approximate map points do not locate individual trees or establish permission to visit.

How this register was selected and mapped

Illinois Extension’s official Big Tree map, retrieved October 8, 2026, contains 202 species slots. We include the 124 populated tree records across 106 published botanical categories, including 18 explicitly labeled co-champions. The 78 slots without a county or measurements are excluded. We retain every populated entry without choosing replacements or deriving additional co-champions from scores.

Circumference is displayed in feet as published. Height and spread are also in feet; original scores are unchanged. The combined “Year listed/Last measured” field is preserved without treating every year as a measurement date. The Carolina silverbell has no circumference value; the eastern cottonwood retains its non-typical-form note. The dataset was last edited July 30, 2026; this does not establish current tree conditions.

All 124 records use 47 approximate Census county points. “Saint Clair” is matched to St. Clair County, retaining the original county wording in the data. Public visiting access is unclassified. Individual tree coordinates, street locations, nominator details, and photographs are not imported.

Full source links on the shared map →

A glimpse of the register

Look up. Look closer.

These are four of the highest published heights in this imported selection, when available. Measurements come from different dates; this preview creates no new champion or national titles. Open a record for its status, measurement context, and source notes.

Union County

pecan

Carya illinoinensis

Published height
135 ft
Published points
360

Date in record: Not listed

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Union County

shagbark hickory

Carya ovata

Published height
132 ft
Published points
269

Date in record: Not listed

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Wabash County

shellbark hickory

Carya laciniosa

Published height
130 ft
Published points
278

Date in record: Not listed

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Union County

sweetgum

Liquidambar styraciflua

Published height
126 ft
Published points
275.2

Date in record: Not listed

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From a record to a relationship

Get to know the trees.

These Library species appear in Illinois’s imported register. Explore identification, seasonal observations, and a practice beside a tree. Photographs are species references taken elsewhere. Matches use scientific names without regard to capitalization; botanical synonyms remain separate.

A place to begin outdoors

Plan a thoughtful visit.

Our available Illinois guides pair arrival and access information with a practice. A guide may feature an ordinary tree, a forest, or a champion; its inclusion here does not give it a champion title. Check current site guidance before travelling.

Arboretum collection visit · The Morton Arboretum · Lisle, Illinois

Bur oaks in the Oak Collection

Choose an established viewpoint where you can see a labelled bur oak without crossing planted areas or blocking a trail. Notice a branch and the opening beside it; leave bark, leaves, and acorns in place.

Arrival, access & practice →