Title of Nation's Largest Dogwood Tree Which grows in Small North Carolina Cemetery

Dogwood TreePhoto byvisitsampsonnc

In a small cemetery along the rural roads of Sampson County, North Carolina, stands a hidden giant—the largest dogwood tree in America, and possibly the world.

Known as the Clinton dogwood, the Sampson County dogwood, or the Matthis Family dogwood, this Champion Tree has quietly watched history unfold for over 150 years.

Standing at 31 feet tall, with a branch spread of 48 feet, this remarkable tree has lived well beyond the typical dogwood's 80-year lifespan.

Its origins remain a mystery. Was it planted intentionally to shade the graves of young Louise and Jessie Matthis, who both died in 1864? Or was the tree already there, predating the cemetery?

Though the tree is slowly dying, a new sapling—likely its offspring—has sprouted nearby, promising to carry on the legacy of this remarkable piece of nature.

You can visit the tree and its sapling at the Matthis Family Cemetery, 2794 Turkey Hwy, just two miles east of Clinton.

Would you visit this historic site and witness the next chapter of this Champion Tree’s story?