Some of Rhode Island's most majestic trees are on display in public gardens and arboreta, like Wilcox Park in Westerly and Blithewold in Bristol.
Others are hiding in plain sight right outside suburban homes.
If you've ever wondered where to find the state's tallest red maple, or wanted pay a visit to Rhode Island's largest tulip tree in spring, the Rhode Island Tree Council has you covered.
The council maintains a database of roughly 150 "champion trees," each believed to be the largest of its kind in the state.
That includes homegrown specimens, like the Rhode Island Greening apple , as well exotic species like Japanese zelkova and Mongolian oak .
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Many are growing on private property and are off-limits to the general public. So below, we've highlighted a few examples you can visit.
Some are found on the grounds of schools, hospitals, museums, cemeteries and other facilities that are generally open to the public (though there may be limits on when and how you can visit). Others are located on private property but can easily be admired from the street.
Please note that there's always a risk that trees may have died, blown down or been removed since the Champion Tree List was last updated.
Additionally, the database doesn't list the exact coordinates of each tree's location, so you may want to call ahead and ask for directions before visiting a large garden or park.
Bristol champion trees
The historic arboretum at Blithewold is known for its jaw-dropping trees. Among the champion trees there:
Juniper Hills Cemetery is home to a 73-foot Sawara false cypress .
A 74-foot American linden tree is viewable from the street at a private home at 59 Highland Road.
Coventry champion trees
The Paine Museum has a 28-foot tall Rhode Island Greening apple tree.
Cranston champion trees
An 84-foot tall Nordmann fir is located on private property at 58 Albert Ave. but is tall enough to see from the street.
East Greenwich champion trees
Clouds Hill Museum has a 70-foot tall Zimmerman, or hybrid, chestnut .
A 75-foot shagbark hickory is visible from the street, at a distance, at a private home at 157 Middle Road.
Glocester champion trees
A 30-foot American chestnut can be found on the grounds of Ponaganset Middle School.
Jamestown champion trees
The Jamestown Tree Committee has developed a self-guided walking tour , found at jamestowntree.org/tree-tour , which highlights a number of awe-inspiring champion trees that are found on private property but can be viewed from the street.
The list includes:
Other champion trees found in Jamestown include a 54-foot Eastern red cedar outside a private home at 22 Mount Hope Ave.
Johnston champion trees
A 100-foot red maple is located on private property at 17 David Drive but is easy to see from the street.
A 63-foot white cedar is visible on the north side of Memorial Avenue just before the intersection with Atwood Avenue, opposite the Marian J. Mohr Memorial Library.
Lincoln champion trees
Lincoln Woods State Park has a 117-foot pignut hickory and a 103-foot black walnut
A 73-foot black maple located on private property at 2 Chase Lane is visible at a distance from the street.
A 97-foot tall American sycamore can be viewed easily from the sidewalk in front a private home at 448 River Road.
An 86-foot white willow is visible from the street at 30 Dexter Rock Road.
Little Compton champion trees
A 111-foot littleleaf linden can be found on Main Street in Adamsville, near the intersection with Route 81.
Newport champion trees
The National Museum of American Illustration , located at 492 Bellevue Ave., claims champions including:
Chateau Sur Mer , owned by the Preservation Society of Newport County, has:
A 40-foot tall Mongolian oak is visible from the street at a private home at 7 Bellevue Court.
North Kingstown champion trees
A 28-foot Camperdown elm is located in front of Brunelle Chiropractic at 250 West Main St.
North Providence champion trees
A 72-foot Douglas fir can be found on the grounds of Our Lady of Fatima Hospital.
A 75-foot black locust tree located at a private home at 57 Rosner Ave. is easy to see from the street.
Pawtucket champion trees
Riverside Cemetery is home to a 73-foot Western arborvitae .
A 71-foot cedar of Lebanon is visible from the street in front of a private home at 689 East Ave.
Providence champion trees
Swan Point Cemetery is home to numerous champion trees, including a 62-foot European eunonymus (on North Way) and a 57-foot sassafras tree (on Forest Avenue.)
Roger Williams Park 's specimens include a 65-foot hardy rubber tree , a 43-foot American hop-hornbeam and a 46-foot California incense-cedar .
Rhode Island College's arboretum includes a 104-foot noble fir located on the west side of campus and marked with placard #52.
Wanskuck Park has a 84-foot Kentucky coffee tree .
A 69-foot Amur cork tree can be found on the grounds of the fire station located at 233 Brook St.
South Kingstown champion trees
A 37-foot Japanese cherry is located on the grounds of South Kingstown Town Hall.
The University of Rhode Island's campus arboretum includes two champion trees: A 35-foot dovetree and a 31-foot mountain silverbell .
Saugatucket Park has a 54-foot scholartree .
Warren champion trees
A 74-foot black oak located in front of a private home at 93 Seymour St. is hard to miss from the road.
Warwick champion trees
A 126-foot tulip tree is visible from the street at a private home at 975 Warwick Neck Ave.
Westerly champion trees
Wilcox Park is home to more than a half dozen champion trees, including:
How are champion trees identified?
The Rhode Island Tree Council uses a point scoring system to judge trees by a combination of their height, trunk circumference and crown spread.
Occasionally, that results in a tie – for instance, both Newport and Bristol can claim to have champion weeping hemlocks. (Bristol's has a wider trunk and crown spread, but Newport's is taller.)
If you know of a tree that's bigger than its species' reigning champion, you can nominate it for inclusion in the database at ritree.org .
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Want to admire some of Rhode Island's biggest champion trees? Here's a town-by-town guide
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