A few towns and cities along the Southern California coast are particularly noted for their historic events and landmarks, and Santa Barbara is one of those places. While the majority of historic landmarks in the area are structures associated with the early settlement of the town, there is one that stands out from the rest. Santa Barbara’s famous Moreton Bay Fig Tree is over 145 years old and is a unique natural historic landmark in Southern California.
As a small sampling, the Moreton Bay Fig Tree, also known as Ficus Macrophylla, was brought by an Australian sailor to the town of Santa Barbara in 1876 and has since thrived in the Mediterranean-like climate of this coastal town. Having been designated as a State Historic Landmark in 1970, it is given special nourishment and is protected by law from being cut down.
This tree was put on the Caifornia Register of Big Trees and is believed to be the largest Ficus Macrophylla in the country.A sign posted on the tree’s perimeter tells the story of this beloved landmark. The sapling was a gift to a young local girl. A year after she planted it, it was relocated to the land where it now grows, at the corner of Montecito Street and Chapala Street.
The car in the photo provides excellent perspective when compared to the size of the tree and its roots. The branches have a span of over 175 feet!
A protective barrier now sits around the base of the tree, and visitors are asked to admire it from outside the barrier.Unlike other giant California trees, such as the Sequoia redwoods in the north, the Moreton Bay Fig’s branches have grown very thick and reach out from low on the trunk, making for amazing views and photos.
The above-ground roots, which are actually extensions of the tree’s trunk, are fascinating in both size and shape. They reach out nearly as wide as the tree’s canopy and resemble octopus legs.
This historic tree produces what are called “diminutive figs,” which can technically be eaten but are not commercially cultivated. The fruit is sweet but much smaller than the common fig and has large coarse seeds.
CacheOn/TripAdvisorThe Moreton Bay Fig is related to the commonly called “Edible fig” that is cultivated and sold commercially, though such figs grow on much smaller trees.
This famous tree is not the only piece of historic interest on the property. Next to it sits an antique Southern Pacific railroad car.
Gezim Biberi/Google LocalThere are several ways to visit the historic Moreton Bay Fig Tree. While there is street parking in the area around the tree, it is also on the route of multiple tours, including the Santa Barbara Trolley tour.
Source: onlyinyourstate.com
