The Noble Trees of Spartanburg Contest

The annual Noble Trees of Spartanburg Contest is a way to educate school children and Spartanburg residents and visitors about the importance of Noble Trees to our community.  Additionally, this contest will be a means to locate some of Spartanburg County's largest and most notable specimen trees.

This competition will assist us as we work to create a interactive map of the Tree Canopy of Spartanburg County and show open areas where Noble Trees need to be planted so that future generations can enjoy these amazing trees.

Competition Rules and Details

Noble Trees will only be nominated once and a tree must be located in Spartanburg County. A tree may only be nominated once, so check the below map to ensure it's not already been selected.

We will accept Noble Trees of Spartanburg County Contest nominations May 13, 2024 to April 15, 2025.

Any Noble Trees nominated between May 13, 2024 and April 15, 2025, are eligible to win the 2025 contest!

The winner will be announced at Hatcher Garden's Twilight in the Garden event in May 2025.

$2500 will be donated by The Noble Tree Foundation to Hatcher Gardens in the name of the winning entrant and $100 each in the name of five notable mention entrants.

Enter Your Noble Tree Now!

Our Current Contestants

2024 Winner and Notable Mentions

2024 Noble Tree Contest Winner:

White Oak (Quercus alba) located on the campus of Spartanburg High School adjacent to Highway 29 Nominated by Joyce Coggins

Notable Mentions:

• Willow Oak (Quercus phellos)-located on the grounds of Roebuck Presbyterian Church nominated by Dan Abraham
• Willow Oak (Quercus phellos) -located at 329 Pine Ridge Road in Roebuck-also nominated by Dan Abraham
• Southern Live Oak (Quercus virginiana)-on Kennedy Street nominated by Charlotte Franke
• Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana)-located at Walnut Grove Plantation- nominated by David Wood
• Southern Red Oak (Quercus falcata)

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2023 Winner and Notable Mentions

2023 Noble Tree Contest Winner:

Willow Oak (Quercus alba) located near Woodruff, SC beside a farmhouse built in 1898 - nominated by Susan Smith and Lea Barrow.

Notable Mentions:

• Trident Maple (Acer buergerianum) on Montgomery Drive - Nominated by Stan Parker
• White Oak (Quercus alba ) on John B White Bld. Campus of Silver Hill Mem Church - nominated by Joyce Coggins
• Japanese Flower Cherry (Prunus serrulata )- on Glendalyn Ave - nominated by Carolyn Crenshaw
• Yulon Magnolia (Magnolia denudate) – on grounds of first Presbyterian Church- Main Street- nominated by Paula Baker and Budge Bean
• Chinese Fringe Tree- (Chionanthus retusus)- on Palmetto Street-nominated by Carolyn Crenshaw

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2022 Winner and Notable Mentions

2022 Noble Tree Contest Winner:

Deodar Cedar (Cedrus deodara) on the campus of Spartanburg Methodist College - nominated by Daniel Abrahams.

Notable Mentions:

• White Oak (Quercus alba) on Earl Drive in Lyman - Nominated by Melinda Franzese
• Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroides) on Woodburn Ridge - Nominated by Alanna Wildman
• Willow Oak (Quercus phellos) on Burnett Drive - Nominated by Robert Cochran
• Water Oak (Quercus nigra) on Mockingbird Lane - Nominated by Mark Hicklin and Marianna Habisreutinger
• White Oak (Quercus alba) on the campus of Spartanburg High School - Nominated by Thomas White