09/10/2026
The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and partners welcomed a direct cutting of the historic George Washington Elm to the state, with the sapling to be placed on the grounds of the Oklahoma State Capitol in 2028. The tree is genetically identical to the tree that shaded George Washington in Cambridge, Massachusetts, when he accepted his commission as general of the Continental Army.
The process of cultivating a verified descendant sapling from a historic tree, such as those planted by George Washington at Mount Vernon, is intricate and time-consuming. Botanists must meticulously await the appropriate season to collect healthy branch cuttings or scion wood, which are only accessible during specific reproductive cycles.
The George Washington elm comes from the Arboretum at the University of Washington. Read the full story in this week's Delaware County Journal.