Located in the Southeast section of Bob Woodruff Park, Plano’s Quincentennial Bur Oak tree is the largest, oldest known tree in the City of Plano. This Bur Oak tree is approximately 91 feet tall, 190 inches in circumference and has a crown spread of 91 feet. The tree was designated the Bicentennial tree in 1987 and was recognized as having lived here at the signing of the U.S. Constitution. An estimate of its age at that time was 225 years. However, later research proved that number too low!

During a storm in 2006 large branch located fifty feet above ground broke and fell from the tree. The loss of this huge branch, over 30 inches in diameter, provided the City's Urban Forester an opportunity to have the age of the tree more accurately estimated. Cross sections (called "cookies") were taken from the fallen limb and delivered to Dr. Howard Arnott, a professor of biology at the University of Texas at Arlington and long familiar with dendrochronology, the science of dating trees. After selecting the best quality cookie, Dr. Arnott counted the growth rings and determined that the branch was at least 226 years old. By applying the same estimated growth rates to the tree itself, it is now believed that the bur oak is over 500 years old.

For a link to video provided by Plano Television Network of an interview with Dr. Arnott click here.

The tree is now knows as Plano's Quincentennial Tree (or the Mighty Quin). While it no longer produces acorns and has lost some of its canopy, Plano's oldest living resident continues to grow and provide shade more than 500 years since it sprouted along Rowlett Creek.

Bur Oak trees are generally found along stream bottoms and adjacent slopes in North and East Central Texas. The wood is heavy, hard, impermeable and durable, and the trees are very hardy, tolerating drought and city pollution. The thick corky bark enables the bur oak tree to withstand fire and other damage better than most oaks.

The section of Bob Woodruff Park where the tree is located, referred to as bottomland, is historically subject to flooding; therefore no private structures were ever built on the property. The soil is very rich containing sediment brought in from other areas by heavy rains and flooding.

The history of the area is also rich. Prior to the land becoming a city park, previous owners included the Dr. Daniel Rowlett Family, Colonel Landon W. Oglesby, William T. Land Family, William D. Prince, and the Claude C. Albritton Family. The Land family used the timber on the property for their west Plano farm, but somehow the bur oak tree was spared.

For more detailed historical account of the Bur Oak, open the History pdf.

Another video about the tree is also available here.