Moreton Bay Fig Tree
1875
11000 National Boulevard – map
Declared: 5/10/63
Okay. So after a string of churches at Nos 16, 17, and 18, we get, at No. 19, a tree. Now, it’s a big tree, a Moreton Bay Fig Tree, a Ficus macrophylla, an Australian evergreen, planted in 1875. McGrew and Julian, in Landmarks of Los Angeles, report it was planted by the Smith family, shading their La Balloona Ranch cottage. It’s now part of the grounds of St John’s Presbyterian Church in Westdale, and it still covers the area with figs after all these years.
As big as this Moreton Bay Fig Tree is, it’s not in the same league as the ones in San Diego and Santa Barbara (the largest in the nation). Both of those are listed in the California Registry of Big Trees. If Moreton Bay Fig Trees rock your world, go see the beauty at Santa Monica’s Fairmont Miramar Hotel.
While St John’s and the city have worked for preservation of the tree – cutting down other trees in the area to allow canopy growth, for example – you’d think they’d figure out an alternative to gouging out a huge hunk of the landmark tree for overhead wires right-of-way:
Up next: Two Stone Gates
That is one big tree! I want one in my yard. Oh wait, I don't have a yard.
ReplyDeletephilpalm here:
ReplyDeleteIn Santa Barbara the homeless used to camp under that tree. Other ficus trees will grow huge and most homeowners choose to chop the trees down before their sewage and foundations are undermined. Looks like I should look thru the City and find other large trees.
Are the figs on the Moreton Bay Fig Tree edible? You'd think with it so widespread, that those figs in could feed an army and then some in storage!
ReplyDelete