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Champion Trees are some of the tallest, oldest, and most remarkable trees in our city. These natural landmarks have witnessed Atlanta’s changing landscape and are an essential part of our urban tree canopy. Each year, we review submissions from the public to update the Champion Trees list during our Georgia Arbor Day celebrations.

Think you know a tree that could be the next Champion? Nominate it to be reviewed for nest year’s list. These trees connect us to nature through their impressive presence and the many benefits they provide to our communities.

Explore the 2025 Champion Tree List:

• Download the PDF to see the full list, with new additions highlighted in green.
• View the Interactive GIS Map, where newly added Champion Trees are marked with a star for easy discovery.

Let’s honor the trees that make Atlanta extraordinary!

Photos (L-R): Photo Credit: Teresa Finlayson. “New 2nd Place Southern catalpa in Grant Park”; Photo Credit: Trees Atlanta. “New 1st Place Northern red oak in North Buckhead”; Photo Credit: Randy Pollard. “New 3rd Place post oak in Chastain Park”; Photo Credit: Louise Geddes. “New 1st Place sweetgum in Peachtree Battle”

Atlanta’s 2025 Champion Tree List includes: 

• 6 new Champion Trees
• 10 Georgia State Champions
• 1 potential U.S. National Champion
• 328 individual Champion Trees listed
• 129 total species represented

There are six new champions identified this year through nominations from residents inside the I-285 perimeter. Two of those are 1st place champions: a sweetgum in the Haynes Manor neighborhood of Atlanta and a Northern red oak in the North Buckhead neighborhood of Atlanta.

Photo Credit: Trees Atlanta. “Eli Dickerson teaches Trees Atlanta volunteers how to measure trees to discern whether they qualify as champions for their species.”

Trees Atlanta’s Champion Tree program is entirely volunteer-driven, and thrives under the leadership of volunteer program manager, Eli Dickerson. Eli’s dedication, passion, and eagerness to share his knowledge have been key to the program’s continued success.

This year, Eli was assisted by 8 volunteers: Randy Pollard, Marley Kern, Justin Bowen, Michael Luz, Veronica Kirk, Tabitha Schwartz, Aditi Venkatech, and Madeleine Barker. These passionate members of our community helped us update the list of Atlanta’s Champion Trees this year.

If you are interested in assisting with the Champion Tree program, please email volunteer@treesatlanta.org. If you would like to nominate a tree as a champion, please fill out the nomination form.

Published: February 20, 2025