Natural Land Institute’s (NLI) Legacy Tree Program is pleased to recognize a Rock Elm (Ulmus thomasii) as the 2026 March Tree of the Month.
It is located in Hononegah Forest Preserve, 80 Hononegah Road, Rockton, IL – Forest Preserves of Winnebago County’s first Preserve, established in 1924. This Rock Elm is 62.0 feet high, has an average crown spread of 57.0 feet, and a circumference of 100.48 inches (8.37 feet).
This is an uncommon and state endangered tree species and due to its size was noticeable. NLI nominated it to the Illinois Big Tree Register and it was confirmed as the Illinois State Champion after being measured by the Register’s official Justin Vozzo, Extension Specialist in Forestry, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, last November…