Riverside Park Hartford,CT cottonwoods.

[sam goodwin]

ENTS. We measured 4 cottonwood trees growing in a row on the CT River bank today. #1 was 12'7" cbh @ 108' high. #2 was 14'6" cbh @ 100+ high. #3 was 15'5" cbh @ 103' high. #4 was 18'6" cbh @ 124' high. Sam Goodwin

[dbhguru]

Sam,

That is an impressive set of stats, especially the last one. Did you get any images? The latter tree is the largest I know of in Connecticut and with the combination of girth and height is up there in a very exclusive club.

Bob

[gnmcmartin]

Sam and Bob and ENTS:

I have my eyes on a cottonwood here in Winchester that I need to measure and photograph. This is a beauty--and big. Just as soon as I can get there with just a bit of time for my camera and measuring.

--Gaines

[dbhguru]

Gaines,

The story of the eastern cottonwood is one that we need to tell. As we all know, the species is a prolific grower, but it isn't at all clear where in the U.S. it achieves its greatest proportions. The trees that Will and Jess measured in Meeman Shelby are our tallest accurately measured cottonwoods.

Cottonwoods are routinely mis-measured by people using a clinometer and tape. Highly improbable heights of 175 feet are cited, which I believe are pure rubbish, but somewhere one has made it to 160. The broad V-shaped crown of cottonwoods make them a challenge to locate the highest point. The usually have many contenders as viewed from a distance.

We look forward to your measurements and stats.

Bob

[sam goodwin]

Bob, there is a listing under "Great State Champion Trees of CT" for a eastern cottonwood in Greenwich. CBH 20'10" @ 108' high. There is one listed for MA, cbh 18.8' @ 128.6 high. Sam

[sam goodwin]

Bob, PS, I have images but I am having trouble downloading them. My son will be here tomorrow, maybe he can do it for me. The lower part of alot of trees in this area are covered in poison ivy. Sam

[Jimmy McDonald]

Gotta love the Cottonwoods. The get pretty large in Minnesota, it must be our biggest tree, I've measured some large ones. Is there any max list for cottonwood?

[dbhguru]

Sam,

The 18.8-ft girth, 128.6-ft height measurement is mine. It is the Bartholomew Cobble Cottonwood. It is arguably right on 19 feet now, but I can't substantiate the height anymore. It is around 126.5 feet, maybe 127.

Jimmy,

Our ENTS data is pretty thin on Cottonwood. Most eastern states that are included in the range of the species have specimens over 20 feet in girth. The tallest we have measured are in Meeman Shelby SP, TN. I measured one that just breaks 140 feet in Big Oak Tree State Park, MO and several over 130 in Illinois along the Mississippi River. Will Blozan has measured them to over 140 in Michigan.

Bob

[sam goodwin]

Download photo of 18'6" cbh cottonwood

[sam goodwin]

Bob, ENTS, Picture shows the largest cottonwood with the other 3 lined up behind it. Sam