Texas A&M Forest Service Famous Trees of Texas

*The Texas Forest Service hardcover book, Famous Trees of Texas, was last published in 1984.*

The Texas A&M Forest Service (TFS), through Texas A&M University Press, first published Famous Trees of Texas as a hardcover book in 1970. The Texas A&M Forest Service Famous Trees of Texas website updates and replaces the original book and subsequent editions. TFS created the website in an effort “to memorialize those trees which have been witness to some of the exciting periods and events in Texas’ frontier history.”

Here you will find the most current listing of trees from A to Z, by Historical Period, Historical Topic, Tree Species, or by County. You can also create a “tour” of the trees online!

Goose Island Oak, the Pioneer Oak, the Treaty Oak, Goodnight-Loving Pecan, Rough Riders Pecan, and the San Saba Mother Pecan are just a few of the Famous Trees of Texas the Forest Service has recognized.

It was underneath the Goodnight-Loving Pecan in 1866 that Charles Goodnight and Oliver Loving formed their partnership and began to move cattle further west than anyone had previously.

The Goose Island Oak (a.k.a. Bishop’s Tree) sits on the Gulf Coast. This former National Champion is estimated to be 1,100 years old.

According to legend, the Ben Milam Cypress, a twin cypress tree, served as the perch for a Mexican sniper who shot and killed Benjamin R. Milam hidden in its branches.

Numerous trees featured on the TFS website have been marked and are being preserved. There are still some, however, that are unknown for the most part and have received little or no attention. TFS would like to see all of Texas’ famous trees marked, protected, and accessible for the public to visit now and in the future.

Visit the TFS website to explore the Famous Trees of Texas. If you are aware of a famous tree in Texas that should be memorialized because it witnessed an exciting period and event in Texas’ frontier history, learn about the process to nominate a tree and download the Famous Trees of Texas PDF nomination form on the TFS website.