A tour of Alabama’s mighty oak trees

Author Pat Byington -
Quercus marcocarpa Montgomery Co., in front of Bellingrath Hall, Huntington College

Last week, Bham Now celebrated Arbor Week with a photo gallery of big beautiful trees sent to us by our readers. One reader, Dr. Mike Hardig, a professor at the University of Montevallo, sent us numerous photos of  famous and state champion oak trees.  We promised to publish a photo gallery. With many thanks to Dr. Hardig here are Alabama’s Mighty Oaks.

Chinkapin Oak – Lauderdale Co., Rogersville, 30’ south of Blue Loop Trail.
Alabama Oaks
Quercus muehlenbergii Lauderdale Co., Rogersville, 30’ south of Blue Loop Trail. Photo by Mike Hardig.
 Shingle Oak – Lawrence Co., Rogersville, located in campground along Tennessee River.  
Alabama Oaks
Quercus imbricaria Lawrence Co., Rogersville, located in campground along Tennessee River. Photo by Mike Hardig.
Laurel Oak – Hale Co., Moundville, in front yard, along 2nd Avenue.
Quercus hemisphaerica Hale Co., Moundville, in front yard, along 2nd Avenue.
Alabama Oaks
Photo by Mike Hardig
Durand Oak –  Wilcox Co., Camden, west side of Alabama River, Shell Creek Park.
Mighty oaks
Quercus durandii Wilcox Co., Camden, west side of Alabama River, Shell Creek Park. Photo by Mike Hardig.
Water Oak – Montgomery Co., Montgomery, Bowling Green Drive.
Alabama oaks
Quercus nigra Montgomery Co., Montgomery, Bowling Green Drive. Photo by Mike Hardig.
Swamp Chesnut Oak  – Cleburne Co., Heflin, off of CR84 (Evans Bridge Road) along Tallapoosa River
Alabama Oaks
Quercus michauxii Cleburne Co., Heflin, off of CR84 (Evans Bridge Road) along Tallapoosa River. Photo by Mike Hardig.
Bur Oak – Montgomery Co., in front of Bellingrath Hall, Huntington College
Quercus marcocarpa Montgomery Co., in front of Bellingrath Hall, Huntington College. Photo by Mike Hardig.
Sand Live Oak – Mobile Co., Mobile, front yard of house at 4960 Moffett Rd.
Quercus geminata Mobile Co., Mobile, front yard of house at 4960 Moffett Rd. Photo by Mike Hardig.
Southern Live Oak – Mobile Co., Creola, at intersection of Hwy 43 & Dead Lake Rd.
Alabama Oaks
Quercus virginiana Mobile Co., Creola, at intersection of Hwy 43 & Dead Lake Rd.
Constitution Oak in Geneva County
Alabama Trees
Photo by Mike Hardig of the Constitution Oak (Q. virginiana) in Geneva County’s Fowler Park.
See the story of the Constitution Oak @ https://www.cityofgeneva.com/oak
Got photos?

Bham Now welcomes your photos of Alabama’s trees.  Feel free to send photos to pat@bhamnow.com , and make sure to include the location and a note confirming that it is ok for us to publish it.

Birmingham famous trees

And don’t forget, Bham Now is encouraging our readers to nominate famous and state champion trees in our region.  Presently, there are not champion trees or even famous trees from Jefferson County on the state registry.  Let’s change that!!

Learn how – HERE.


  • Longtime conservationist. Former Executive Director at the Alabama Environmental Council and Wild South. Publisher of the Bama Environmental News for more than 18 years. Career highlights include playing an active role in the creation of Alabama's Forever Wild program, Little River Canyon National Preserve, Dugger Mountain Wilderness, preservation of special places throughout the East through the Wilderness Society and the strengthening (making more stringent) the state of Alabama's cancer risk and mercury standards.