The Top Ten Metasequoias listed here are from the 331 tree database on limited to the United States. I compiled the data and created a "Single Tree Rating" formula to rank the trees. I used height, diameter at breast height, and planting date. The rating formula has two steps:

1) Height + (1.5 * diameter at breast height) --- Height and DBH are not of equal importance because height is the most recognizable attribute. The thick, often fluted appearance of the base in developed Metasequoias accentuates the unusual form of the tree. This formula recognizes not only the height but the width of the base of each tree.

2) Value + 2 (57-Age) --- Most of the of the largest Metasequoias are the oldest Metasequoias too. But there are some Metas that have grown extraordinarily quickly. This formula recognizes these trees that have grown unusually fast.



All but two of The Top Ten trees are from the Delaware Valley area. The Delaware Valley area is clearly the best climate for Metasequoias in the United States. It is temperate, with adequate rains and minimal winds, and excellent soils.

There are three Number One Metasequoias, all of which are tied at 201 points. One is from the Peavy Arboretum in Corvallis, Oregon. The other two are from Princeton University in Princeton, New Jersey.

One of the Number One trees is at the Peavy Arboretum. This arboretum is owned by Oregon State University. The two Metasequoias at the Peavy are in the front yard of the Peavy Lodge. One of these trees is the tallest specimen recorded in my database, standing out at 140 feet with a 40.5 inch diameter. It is a true original, meaning the seed came from the Arnold Arboretum.

The Number Two and Three trees are two of the many beautiful specimens located at Princeton University. Princeton University was the best overall site in my study, so it is no surprise to see four of their trees in the Top Ten.

The Number Two tree is the huge Meta in the middle of campus at Prospect Park, pictured to the right. At 116 feet tall and 56.5 inches in DBH, it is 24 feet shorter than the Oregon skyscraper but over 15 inches wider at the base, providing for a fine balance of base width and height.

The Number Three tree is at again at Princeton, this time in the Broadmead Grove. The Broadmead Grove is a cluster of over 10 Metasequoias along the side of Broadmead Road, just a minute away from the center of Princeton University.

The Metas here are generally taller and stouter than the tree at Prospect Park. This is because they were planted closer together, and they grow this way to catch more sunlight and receive more nutrients. The Number Three Meta is 133 feet tall with a 35.8 inch diameter.



The Numbers Four through Number Seven trees are all in the Delaware Valley region around Philadelphia. The Number Four tree is at The Morris Arboretum is located in the Chestnut Hill area in Philadelphia. The Top Ten Meta here is in the Sculpture Garden, on the North side of the stream. It is 114 feet tall and 49.7 inches in DBH. It is one of the many beautiful, finely buttressed specimens along the Sculpture Garden.

The Number Five tree is at Winterthur Gardens. This is located in Winterthur, Delaware. The Top Ten tree here has a beautifully buttressed base. It is one of the widest tree in the database, with a height of 101 feet and a diameter of 59.4 inches.

The Top Ten Metasequoia at the Willowwood Arboretum in Far Hills, NJ, has a very large base too. The Willowwood Arboretum, along with the Frelinghuysen Arboretum, are part of the Morris County Parks system and are within 20 minutes of each other. This is noteworthy because the Frelinghuysen Arboretum has the Number Nine tree. It is the Number Six tree in the database. This tree is 100 feet tall with a diameter of 61.1 inches. This is the second largest base in my database.

The Number Seven Metasequoia is another specimen at Princeton University. The tree in the Broadmead Grove is 123 feet tall with a 37.7 inch diameter. This is one of the four trees from Princeton in my Top Ten, three of which are in the Broadmead Grove. You can see these Metasequoias on the photograph to the left. The Metasequoias are the tall, darker trees in the background.

The Number Eight Metasequoia is at the Bernheim Forest Arboretum, outside of Louisville, Kentucky. It is 107 feet tall with a 35.8 diameter. It has reached this size in only 41 years. The main reason why it is in the Top Ten is because it has grown so quickly. In fact it is the youngest tree in the database to reach 100 feet in height. Along with the Metas at the Stanley M. Rowe Arboretum outside Cincinnati, (not included in the Top Ten, but at Number Eleven), the trees in this area are among the largest in the nation. The mild climate along the Ohio River fosters healthy, vigorous Metasequoias.

The Number Nine Metasequoia is at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum in Morristown, NJ. This is by far the youngest tree in the Top Ten, at 33 years old. It is included because it has grown extremely well in this short span, reaching 81 feet in height with a 42 inch diameter. It is in the Morris County Parks system, along with the Willowwood Arboretum.

The Number Ten Metasequoia is again from Princeton University. This is the fourth tree from Princeton in the Top Ten, highlighting the impressive Metasequoias at this site. This tree is 126 feet tall with a 34 inch base, and is again in the Broadmead Grove.

Clearly the best climate for Metasequoias is the Delaware Valley Region. With eight of the Top Ten Trees from this area, it is undoubtedly the best place to go if you want to see a massive Metasequoia. And with four of the Top Ten Trees, Princeton has the most Metasequoias in my Top Ten.


Photos and data courtesy the Morris Arboretum, Princeton University, and Peavy Arboretum unless otherwise noted

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