Big Trees Are Scarce in Plano

You may have noticed that really big trees are a rarity in our community. That’s because the land that is now Plano was once a grassland subject to wildfires and buffalo grazing before it was settled. Once it was settled, the flat treeless land was ideal for farming and domestic livestock grazing. The activities pre- and post-settlement prohibited the natural growth of trees. But, in bottomland areas, such as creek floodplains, trees were able to thrive with rich sediment-laden soil, and water. These areas typically are resistant to fire and not ideal for development into crop land or urban development.

Why Big Trees Are Important

Big trees are important assets to our community. They provide enormous benefits in terms of carbon sequestration, air pollution abatement and storm water run off diversion. They are also extremely valuable monetarily, and once removed, take a lifetime to replace.

Haggard Park boasts a Metroplex Champion Tree - an Overcup Oak (Quercus lyrata). It is 106 inches in circumference, 45 feet tall, with a 55-foot crown spread. The tree was designated Metroplex Champion on December 7, 2004. It is speculated that this tree grew along the banks of a creek that probably flowed through the site where there is now a pond.



Texas Big Tree Registry Opens a New Window.

DFW Champion and Historic Trees Opens a New Window.