A towering sugarberry tree on our campus has been named an Atlanta Champion Tree, earning recognition for its remarkable size and presence in the April issue of Atlanta Magazine. With a canopy spread of 106 feet, it surpasses the current national champion by 27 feet, making it a contender for the largest sugarberry in the United States!
The nomination was led by Anna Hauser, a local arborist, TCS parent and alum, who has spent over a year advocating for the tree’s recognition.
“It is simply a stunning specimen. Not just large, but massive,” said Anna. “With a wide, spreading crown and a fan-like appearance, this is a sugarberry with the majestic and towering presence of an American elm.”
Official measurements put the tree at 203 inches in circumference, 71 feet tall, and with a canopy spread of 106 by 99 feet. Historic aerial photos from 1938 already show a well-established canopy, suggesting the tree could be at least 150 years old.
The recognition is particularly meaningful because the sugarberry grows in an unexpected setting. “This species typically reaches its full size in stream banks, not schoolyards,” Anna said. “For it to develop into such a majestic tree as a forgotten alley specimen is extraordinary.”
As a TCS alum, Anna has a deep connection to the tree. “My first memories of it are from the early 1980s when we played soccer in its shade. But it wasn’t until I returned to campus as a parent that I really saw it with the eyes of an arborist.”
Anna hopes the tree’s recognition sparks curiosity and stewardship among students. “It’s a humble, often overlooked tree species,” she said. “But it’s a treasure. It supports songbirds with its winter fruit, produces a type of honey, and now, it’s a source of wonder and pride for our school.”
The Atlanta Champion Tree program, now overseen by Trees Atlanta, uses a national point system based on a tree’s height, trunk circumference and canopy spread. Despite a scoring bias that de-emphasizes crown width, the TCS sugarberry still qualifies as a national contender.
“Even with the formula favoring height and trunk size, this tree edges out the national champion,” Hauser said. “That’s phenomenal.”
She believes the tree’s best days may still lie ahead. Once official measurements are submitted to the Georgia and national programs, the sugarberry could take its place as the country’s largest.
“I believe it will be named national champion,” Hauser said. “And an annual health check would be a smart investment to ensure it thrives for generations to come.”
Click here to read the full Atlanta Magazine article featuring our sugarberry tree!
