Natural Land Institute’s (NLI) Legacy Tree Program is pleased to announce the February Tree of the Month is a Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) located at R. Robert Funderburg Forest Preserve, 4551 S. Meridian Rd. Rockford, IL.
The Black Cherry is 93 feet tall, with an average crown spread of 60 feet and a circumference of 160 inches inches (13.3 ft.). It scores: 270.65. It was measured by Justin Vozzo (U of I Extension Specialist in Forestry, ISA Certified Arborist #IL-9946A) in November 2025 and is potentially the new State Champion, pending remeasurement of the current Illinois State Champion Black Cherry located in Tazewell County.
The February Tree of the Month was nominated by Mike Groves, Natural Resources Manager, Forest Preserves of Winnebago County. Groves grew up on the farm that is now Funderburg Forest Preserve. He said, “I always thought it was one of the biggest black cherries I had ever seen. It was in the old cow pasture where dad would always pasture dry cows and breed heifers there in the summer months. We had some fun cow round ups there in the fall.”…