City of Norcross works to grow living heirlooms of its Champion American Elm

BY BETH SLAUGHTER SEXTON STAFF CORRESPONDENT

Much like the grand lady she is, the 300-year-old Champion American Elm tree in the City of Norcross is famous for her beauty, her strength and endurance and she is exactly what all the other little American Elm trees want to be when they grow up.

Thanks to science and a word that was not coined until she was already 200 years old, cloning the Champion American Elm tree is now a huge part of keeping the tree’s heritage alive in the City of Norcross. Plant physiologist Herbert J. Webber first coined the term “clone” from the Greek klon in 1903, to refer to the technique of propagating new plants using cuttings, bulbs or buds.

Now the City of Norcross, Green Reyno Nursery and SavATree have initiated a long-term project for the asexual propagation and production of genetic clones of the tree as a heritage endeavor for the Norcross community. Propagation and production of cloned trees is a long-term project, possibly as long as five years before new trees are ready for planting. The process starts with the collection of cuttings from the tree. Cuttings are taken early in the morning when the cells in the leaves and stems are most turgid, meaning holding the most water. The cuttings are then transported, in coolers with wet sheets and ice packs, to the North Carolina propagation facility of Green Reyno Nursery, which is owned by Bill Reynierson. At the facility, the cuttings are transplanted into 50-cell, 5-inch-deep propagation trays with a rooting hormone and placed on growing tables. Reynierson has 10 propagation houses (17,000+ square feet) and a staff of four to monitor and manage his facility. Each propagation house has an automatic misting system to keep the leaves from drying out (7 seconds every 5 minutes depending on temperatures), along with circulation fans, louvers and exhaust fans. Plans call for the cuttings to successfully root in the cells and be ready for transplanting to three-gallon containers. As they are “grown out” in the containers, they will be monitored for health, growth habit and form and vigorousness and then moved to a growing farm. The city states its goal is to continue the heritage of its Champion American Elm into the next tricentennial. The City of Norcross has already completed several rounds of cuttings.

“We are trying to trick these cuttings into thinking that they are still on the tree and growing and try to coax them into putting on roots to replace the water transport that would be happening if they were still on the tree,” Reynierson said. He is finding that the timing of the cuttings, the size of those cuttings, and even the part of the tree where the cuttings are taken can all influence the success of the propagation effort. No stranger to American Elm propagation, he typically takes cuttings from much younger trees that are growing vigorously. The percentage of viable rooted cuttings has been relatively low to date, but the team at Green Reyno, SavATree and city staff remain excited and upbeat about growing this living heirloom of Norcross history.

The beautiful American Elm tree, which is located in the city’s Betty Mauldin Park is older than the City of Norcross and is a nostalgic reminder of the old-town atmosphere that is characteristic of historic Norcross. It survived the devastating Dutch Elm Disease in the early 1900s, which killed most American Elms throughout North America. The historic tree continues to withstand the stress of an urban environment. The buttressed multiple trunk and broad, rounded crown are characteristic of the species. The tree stands 80 feet tall with a spread of 125 feet and a trunk circumference of 233 inches. In 1999, it was named a State Champion Tree by the Georgia Forestry Commission. Maintaining the health of the tree is a priority for the City of Norcross. Arborists at Downey Trees have partnered with the city for more than 10 years to implement a custom tree health care program. The tree is pampered with extensive arboricultural support, including fertilization, inoculations to minimize pests and diseases, soil decompaction, mulching, lightning protection and support cables and bracing to support its massive limbs.

Norcross, which has long been recognized as a Tree City USA, takes great pride in its Champion American Elm tree, which is estimated to have been growing since the early 1700s. The city was established in 1870, at least 150 years later. The grand lady has presided over this part of Norcross for three centuries and in the spirit of “if that tree could talk,” it would be amazing to know what it has witnessed since it began as a tiny elm tree growing in the rich soil of what would become the state of Georgia in 1788.