The tree survey completed on public lands in Garretson last fall produced a State Champion... a big tree champion, that is.
Last week, the City of Garretson was informed that a Hackberry tree located on 4th Street had been awarded a State Championship and was placed on the Big Tree Registry for the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, due to its size. The tree measured 57 feet tall and 11 feet 5 inches in circumference, with a crown spread of 70 feet.
The average Hackberry is between 40-to-60 feet tall and tends to only have a spread of 40-to-60 feet at maturity, according to arborday.org. They produce a small berry that is valuable for winter birds, and is a host to the Hackberry Butterfly and other butterfly species. Native to the United States, its hard-but-flexible wood has been popular for flooring.
The tree is located on the boulevard in front of Lee and Judy Hanson's property, who purchased the house from Robert Williamson approximately ten years ago.
The Hackberry is the only big tree champion listed in Garretson, according to the South Dakota Big Tree Registry. The Registry contains 91 other trees in 49 different species, with the largest champion being a cottonwood near Canton, SD that stands at 93 feet tall, is 32 feet in circumference, and has a crown spread of 125 feet.
