Honour roll of Ontario trees: the biggest and tallest trees in Ontario

The tallest tree in Ontario is currently a white pine in Arnprior that is 47 meters (154 feet) tall. Some other notably big and tall trees are listed below, with sources. The first table includes some modern champions, then below that is the complete honour roll of Ontario Trees as it existed in 2003. If the new champions are larger than the 2003 list (many of which are records from the 1980s and 90s) it is indicated in the “Champion” column. Eventually I hope to merge the lists. Learn more about Ontario’s oldest and biggest trees, including where to see them, in Ontario’s old-growth forests: a guidebook and Old-growth Forest Walks: 26 Hikes in Ontario’s Greenbelt. Ontario’s biggest trees are at risk from invasive species, to help make a difference sign this petition.

Note that size and age aren’t strongly related – most of Ontario’s oldest trees are relatively small. The list of Ontario’s oldest trees is being regularly updated, it is officially hosted on this website. Learn more about recognizing old trees.

SpeciesDiameter (cm)Height (m)ChampionLocation / source
Alder, speckled2917YesBurlington
Ash, red13227Yes Burlington
Butternut11624Burlington
Chestnut, American8425YesNiagara, N of Fonthill (1)
Dogwood, alt leaf199Yes Burlington
Hickory, bitternut12330Yes Burlington
Oak, Hills115>25YesTillsonburg (2)
Oak, White14427 Burlington
Germinated 1725
Pine, white47Arnprior
  1. Ambrose, John, personal communication
  2. O’Hara, Paul. personal communication

Below is the list of Ontario’s biggest trees, as it existed in 2003. I’ve posted it here since an updated version isn’t available online. The formula used to calculate the champions tends to emphasize girth over height.

The Champions


SOFTWOODS (GYMNOSPERMS)
SPECIES NOMINATOR YEAR TREE LOCATION DIAMETER
(cm)
HEIGHT
(m)
POINTS PIC
CEDAR

EASTERN RED CEDAR
JUNIPERUS VIRGINIANA

D. WILLIAMS
HAMILTON

1979

873 MONTGOMERY DRIVE
ANCASTER, WENTWORTH

82.00

15.70

129


EASTERN WHITE CEDAR
THUJA OCCIDENTALIS

A. BUTWICK
MILGROVE

1976

FALLS RESERVE CONS AREA
BENMILLER, HURON

178.00

17.60

313


FIR

BALSAM FIR
ABIES BALSAMEA

D. LEMMON
BEARDMORE

1977

MIGNET LAKE
NIPIGON, THUNDER BAY

47.00

30.50

143


HEMLOCK

EASTERN HEMLOCK
TSUGA CANADENSIS

S. VASILIAUSKAS
WHITNEY

1998

BIG TROUT LAKE
ALGONQUIN PARK, NIPISSING

105.40

30.00

316


LARCH

TAMARACK
LARIX LARCINA

D. THAIN
BANCROFT

1998

LOT 6 CON 2, CARDIFF TWP
, HALIBURTON

67.00

29.00

194


PINE

EASTERN WHITE PINE
PINUS STROBUS

H. KENNEDY
HALIBURTON

1975

INTERNATIONAL COOPERAGE CO. PROPERTY
, HALIBURTON

172.00

45.10

776


JACK PINE
PINUS BANKSIANA

D. THAIN
BANCROFT

1984

BIG WOMAN LAKE, GOODAL TWP
, KENORA

70.00

25.00

175


PITCH PINE
PINUS RIGIDA

A. BUTWICK
MILGROVE

1977

EAST OF IVY LEA BRIDGE
, LEEDS AND GRENVILLE

47.00

19.70

93


RED PINE
PINUS RESINOSA

I. KENTELL
PEMPROKE

1975

ALGONQUIN PARK
ALGONQUIN PARK, NIPISSING

113.00

37.50

424


SPRUCE

BLACK SPRUCE
PICEA MARIANA

D. THAIN
BANCROFT

1984

LOON LAKE, MITCHEL TWP
, KENORA

41.00

21.00

86


RED SPRUCE
PICEA RUBENS

R. KOABEL
WELLAND

1986


HUNTSVILLE, MUSKOKA

83.00

22.90

190


WHITE SPRUCE
PICEA GLAUCA

D. THAIN
BANCROFT

1991

LOT 24 CON 11, MCCLURE TWP
, HASTINGS

79.00

39.00

308



HARDWOODS (ANGIOSPERMS)
SPECIES NOMINATOR YEAR TREE LOCATION DIAMETER
(cm)
HEIGHT
(m)
POINTS PIC
ALDER

SPECKLED ALDER
ALNUS RUGOSA

J. PRINGLE
HAMILTON

1976

BULLS PT. BOTANICAL GARDENS
HAMILTON, WENTWORTH

27.00

14.30

39


APPLE

WILD CRAB
MALUS CORONARIA

J. AMBROSE
GUELPH

1982

S. DUMFRIES TWP
, BRANT

8.00

4.00

3


ASH

BLACK ASH
FRAXINUS NIGRA

J. MIHELL
BARRYS BAY

1998

OPEONGO LAKE
ALGONQUIN PARK, NIPISSING

76.20

29.50

225


BLUE ASH
FRAXINUS QUADRANGULATA

W. SCOTT
SOMBRA

1976

SOMBRA TWP.
SOMBRA, LAMBTON

85.00

21.20

180


RED (AND GREEN) ASH
FRAXINUS PENSYLVANICA

G. HIGHAM
INGLESIDE

1981

LONG SAULT PARKWAY LOT 49
MOULINETT ISLAND, STORMONT, DUNDAS AND GLENGARRY

130.00

23.50

305


WHITE ASH
FRAXINUS AMERICANA

A. BUTWICK
MILGROVE

1973

407 KING ST.
NIAGARA ON THE LAKE, LINCOLN

127.00

31.40

399


BASSWOOD

AMERICAN BASSWOOD
NA

D. THAIN
BANCROFT

1998

DUNGANNON TWP
, HASTINGS

189.00

23.00

435


BEECH

AMERICAN BEECH
FAGUS GRANIFOLIA

A. BUTWICK
MILGROVE

1975

SPRINGWATER CONS AREA
SPRINGWATER, ELGIN

92.00

28.40

261


BIRCH

CHERRY BIRCH
BETULA LENTA

A. BUTWICK
MILGROVE

1976

15 MILE CREEK AND LAKESHORE ROAD
ST. CATHERINES, LINCOLN

92.00

17.70

163


WHITE BIRCH
BETULA PAPYRIFERA

M. ROBINSON
SUNRIDGE

1974

LOT 17, CONC. 1, STRONG TWSP
SUNRIDGE, PARRY SOUND

118.00

13.70

162


YELLOW BIRCH
BETULA ALLLEGHANIENSIS

G. FELTON
PARRY SOUND

1976

NORTH SHORE, LORIMER LAKE
FERGUSON, PARRY SOUND

173.00

24.70

427


BUCKEYE

OHIO BUCKEYE
AESCULUS GALBRA

J. DICK
NIAGARA ON THE LAKE

1987

1127 LAKESHORE ROAD
NIAGARA ON THE LAKE, LINCOLN

89.00

14.00

125


CHERRY AND PLUM

BLACK CHERRY
PRUNUS SEROTINA

A. BUTWICK
MILGROVE

1973

ROYAL BOTANICAL GARDENS
HAMILTON, WENTWORTH

111.00

28.20

313


CHOKE CHERRY
PRUNUS VIRGINIANA

G. YAKI
KINGSTON

1974


POINT ABINO, WELLAND

26.00

16.20

42


PIN CHERRY
PRUNUS PENSYLVANICA

S. VASILIAUSKAS
WHITNEY

1998

OPEONGO LAKE
ALGONQUIN PARK, NIPISSING

46.00

16.50

78


CANADA PLUM
PRUNUS NIGRA

J. SHERRIN
TORONTO

1982

CLEARWATER BEACH
, SIMCOE

5.00

4.50

2


WILD PLUM
PRUNUS AMERICANA

W. GILMOUR
HAMILTON

1982


SENECA, HALDIMAND

7.50

3.00

2


CHESTNUT

AMERICAN CHESTNUT
CASTANEAA DENTATA

J. AMBROSE
GUELPH

1988


BURFORD, BRANT

64.00

26.00

166


CUCMUBER TREE

CUCUMBER TREE
MAGNOLIA ACUMINATA

A. BUTWICK
MILGROVE

1984


FENWICK, WELLAND

137.00

19.50

257


DOGWOOD

ALTERNATE LEAVED DOGWOOD
CORNUS ALTERNIFOLIA

R. MICHELL
BURLINGTON

1987

LA SALLE PARK
BURLINGTON, WENTWORTH

18.00

8.00

14


EASTERN FLOWERING DOGWOOD
CORNUS FLORIDA

D. BROWN
DRYDEN

1977

NE OF THAMESVILLE
THAMESVILLE, KENT

36.00

12.20

44


ELM

ROCK ELM
ULMUS THOMASII

A. BUTWICK
MILGROVE

1975


KEENE, PETERBOROUGH

63.00

20.40

128


SLIPPERY ELM
ULMUS RUBRA

H. LANCASTER
WINGHAM

1987


BAYFIELD, HURON

150.00

26.80

402


WHITE ELM
ULMUS AMERICANA

R. PERKINS
SAULT STE. MARIE

1975

NICOLET TWP
, ALGOMA

151.00

37.50

566


GUM

BLACK GUM
NYSSA SYLVATICA

D. BROWN
DRYDEN

1976

SOUTH OF STRATHROY
STRATHROY, MIDDLESEX

104.00

21.60

225


HACKBERRY

AMERICAN HACKBERRY
CELTIS OCCIDENTALIA

D. BROWN
DRYDEN

1978

WEST OF LEAMINGTON
LEAMINGTON, ESSEX

119.00

21.30

253


HAWTHORN

COCKSPUR HAWTHORN
CRATAEGUS CRUS-GALLI

A. BUTWICK
MILGROVE

1973


ANCASTER, WENTWORTH

50.00

10.00

50


DOWNY HAWTHORN
CRATAEGUS MOLIS

G. WALDRON
AMHERSTBERG

1986

NORTH OF AMHERSTBURG
AMHERSTBURG, ESSEX

62.00

6.80

42


HAWTHORN SPP
CRATAEGUS SPP

D. BROWN
DRYDEN

1978


AMHERSTBURG, ESSEX

51.00

9.30

47


HICKORY

BIG SHELLBARK HICKORY
CARYA LACINIOSA

A. BUTWICK
MILGROVE

1976

SOUTHWEST OF CHATHAM
CHATHAM, KENT

54.00

23.30

126


BITTERNUT HICKORY
CARYA CORDIFORMIS

P. RICE
BURLINGTON

1980


BURLINGTON, WENTWORTH

111.00

29.00

322


PIGNUT HICKORY
CARYA GALBRA

M. LANDON
SIMCOE

1973

EAST OF SIMCOE
SIMCOE, SIMCOE

94.00

25.00

235


SHAGBARK HICKORY
CARYA OVATA

M. LANDON
SIMCOE

1974

BACKUS WOODS
ST. WILLIAMS, NORFOLK

95.00

32.00

304


HOP TREE

HOP TREE
PTELEA TRIFOLIATA

J. AMBROSE
GUELPH

1982

MIDDLE ISLAND
LAKE ERIE, WELLAND

24.00

10.00

24


HORNBEAM

BLUE BEECH
CARPINUS CAROLINIANA

A. LIPTAY
KINGSVILLE

1979


KINGSVILLE, ESSEX

44.00

10.70

47


HOP HORNBEAM(IRONWOOD)
OSTRYA VIRGINIANA

A. MCCORMICK
SHEDDEN

1987

SOUTHWOLD TWP
, ELGIN

91.00

17.70

161


KENTUCKY COFFEE TREE

KENTUCKY COFFEE TREE
GYMNOCLADUS DIOICUS

A. BUTWICK
MILGROVE

1981

WEST STREET
SIMCOE, SIMCOE

92.00

23.30

214


LOCUST

HONEY LOCUST
GLEDITSIA TRICANTHOS

H. CLEMENT
NIAGARA ON THE LAKE

1980

NORTH OF ST. DAVIDS
NIAGARA, LINCOLN

126.00

25.30

319


MAPLE

BLACK MAPLE
ACER SACCHARUM SPP NIGRUM

W. SCOTT
SOMBRA

1976

SOMBRA TWP
SOMBRA, LAMBTON

111.00

29.30

325


MANITOBA MAPLE
ACER NEGUNDO

A. MCCORMICK
SHEDDEN

1984

ZORRA TWP
, OXFORD

136.00

16.00

218


MOUNTAIN MAPLE
ACER SPICATUM

S. VASILIAUSKAS
WHITNEY

1998

DICKSON LAKE
ALGONQUIN PARK, NIPISSING

13.00

10.00

13


RED MAPLE
ACER RUBRUM

A. BUTWICK
MILGROVE

1977


SQUIRREL ISLAND, LAMBTON

127.00

31.10

395


SILVER MAPLE
ACER SACCHARINUM

A. MCCORMICK
SHEDDEN

1982

SOUTHWOLD TWP
, ELGIN

208.00

32.40

647


STRIPED MAPLE
ACER PENSYLVANICUM

G. COX
PRESQUILE

1975

PRESQUILE PROVINCIAL PARK
PRESQUILE, NORTHUMBERLAND

27.00

16.80

45


SUGAR MAPLE
ACER SACCHARUM

A. BUTWICK
MILGROVE

1973

COMFORT MAPLE, NORTH PELHAM
NIAGARA, LINCOLN

191.00

25.00

477


MULBERRY

RED MULBERRY
MORUS RUBRA

J. AMBROSE
GUELPH

1984

BALLS FALLS CONS AREA
NIAGARA, LINCOLN

31.00

16.00

50


OAK

BLACK OAK
QUERCUS VELUTINA

D. BROWN
DRYDEN

1978


KINGSVILLE, ESSEX

170.00

24.10

410


BUR OAK
QUERCUS MACROCARPA

J. CHAPMAN
SIMCOE

1984

BURFORT TWP
, BRANT

212.00

29.30

621


CHINQUAPIN OAK
QUERCUS MUEHLENBERGII

D. MACLEOD
HYDE PARK

1977

NEAR FANSHAWE DAM
LONDON, MIDDLESEX

144.00

22.60

325


PIN OAK
QUERCUS PALUSTRIS

G. WALDRON
AMHERSTBERG

1986

MEMORIAL PARK
WINDSOR, ESSEX

138.00

27.50

379


RED OAK
QUERCUS RUBRA

A. WOODLIFFE
MORPETH

1984

HARWICH TWP
, KENT

194.00

31.10

603


SWAMP WHITE OAK
QUERCUS BICOLOR

A. MCCORMICK
SHEDDEN

1984


DELAWARE, MIDDLESEX

155.00

24.00

372


WHITE OAK
QUERCUS ALBA

N. OTONABEE REGION CONS. AUTHORIT
PETERBOROUGH

1976

OTONABEE TWP.
OTONABEE, PETERBOROUGH

191.00

27.10

518


PAWPAW

PAWPAW
ASIMINA TRILOBA

M. LANDON
SIMCOE

1973

MNR FOREST STATION
ST. WILLIAMS, NORFOLK

23.00

7.30

17


POPLAR AND APSEN

BALSAM POPLAR
POPULUS BALSAMIFERA

D. THAIN
BANCROFT

1998

ARMOUR ROAD
PETERBOROUGH, PETERBOROUGH

140.00

31.00

434


POPLAR AND ASPEN

COTTONWOOD
POPULUS DELTOIDES

F. SCOTT-PEARCE
CHATHAM

1982

GRAND AVE WEST
CHATHAM, KENT

265.00

35.40

938


LARGETOOTH ASPEN
POPULUS GRANDIDENTATA

R. MICHELL
BURLINGTON

1981


BURLINGTON, WENTWORTH

69.00

28.10

194


SERVICEBERRY

ALLEGHENY SERVICEBERRY
AMELANCHIER LAEVLS

D. BROWN
DRYDEN

1980

CARADOC TWP.
, MIDDLESEX

57.00

12.20

69


DOWNY SERVICEBERRY
AMELANCHIER ARBOREA

W. GILMOUR
HAMILTON

1979

SOUTHEAST OF ALBERTON
HAMILTON, WENTWORTH

54.00

11.60

63


SUMAC

STAGHORN SUMAC
RHUS TYPHINA

W. FOX
LONDON

1950

LAKE HURON BLUFF
GODERICH, HURON

33.00

7.40

24


SYCAMORE

AMERICAN SYCAMORE
PLANTANUS OCCIDENTALIS

R. CAMPBELL
DUTTON

1975

SYDENHAM RIVER
ALVINSTON, LAMBTON

263.00

29.90

786


TULIP TREE

TULIP TREE
LIRIODENDERON TULIPIFERA

M. LANDON
SIMCOE

1973

NORMANDALE CEMETARY
TURKEY POINT, NORFOLK

158.00

27.10

428


WALNUT

BLACK WALNUT
JUGLANS NIGRA

R. CRAIG
KINGSTON

1998

NORTH OF HWY 2
CATARAQUI, FRONTENAC

180.00

27.40

493


BUTTERNUT
JUGLAS CINEREA

S. GAYMAN
ST. CATHERINES

1975

SHORT HILLS WILDERNESS AREA
NIAGARA, LINCOLN

116.00

24.50

284


If you’re interested in tree measurement, and identifying old trees take a look at the FIELD SURVEY FOR OLD FORESTS / TREES datasheets, which includes notes on tree measurement on the last page.