A tree that’s located with the city of Clayton has been recognized as one of the Show-Me-State’s finest trees by the Missouri Department of Conservation.
The tree, an Ohio buckeye (Aesculus glabra), which normally grows in rich or rocky woods of valleys, or steep slopes resides on private land within Clayton. The tree is 81 inches in circumference at 4.5 feet off the ground, and 56 feet tall and has a branch spread of 248 feet.
Danny Moncheski, community forester at the Missouri Department of Conservation, believes the tree hasn’t been interfered with and praised the property owners for their care of the tree.
“By implementing practices, such as a tree protection plan during construction and renovation, the family has minimized any damage to the tree’s root structure,” Moncheski said in a written statement. “What a wonderful tree that has no signs of slowing down.”
Missouri’s champion trees are selected based on a formula which gives the tree a point value. Points are determined by a tree’s height, crown spread and trunk size. The formula adds the circumference in inches (measured at a point 4.5 feet above the ground) to the height in feet, to one-fourth of the average crown spread. MDC awards official recognition plaques to both the nominator and the owner of a champion tree.