Moreton Bay Fig Tree

Well if you’re in Santa Barbara and have some time to kill this tree is worth a look. Yep, it’s a tree and it’s big! We had no problem finding parking early in the morning.

Historically significant, check. Featured on t. v, check. The instance of this tree on tv that is in my memory is an episode of «California’s Gold,» with Huell Howser. My dad was on the same episode, we have it on vhs, so I’ve seen the episode a few times… Huell was a regionally famous public tv persona, he had lots of fun witticisms and a tennesee accent.
But, I digress. SB and the homeless also have a past with this tree, apparently it was used as a mailing address for some of the street folk off and on through the years. Psa, don’t carve in the tree. Take only pictures, leave only footsteps or something.

This is a must stop on your way back up or down the 101 freeway. It’s right at the Amtrak station by a suburb so it was a bit odd to see such a grandiose tree standing in the middle.
There is a dedicated parking lot for the tree (and probably for Amtrak too). It’s 75 min free even but you need to take a ticket.
The tree is so unassuming and wonderful. It’s roots were nearly 5 feet tall. My boyfriend was literally like, «I did not drive 2.5 hrs to see a stinkin tree» but once we arrived, he was so impressed.
Although there’s a low chain surrounding the tree, I assumed we could get up and close. No one stopped us and there were no signs anywhere.
When is fig season? I’d be willing to come back just to taste the figs!
But people, this is nature. Please resist the urge to vandalize the tree! It’s such a pity to see names knifed all over this beautiful artifact of nature.

I’ve been to SB a few times now and finally saw this giant fig tree everyone’s always talking about! We drove by and took some pictures. You can even see it from the 101. It’s really huge and super cool, but it has a fence around it, which is kind of a bummer, but I get that it’s being protected. But you can definitely sit in its shade!

This is one impressive tree! Really impressive. Different sources call it the biggest, as say it is on the National Register of Big Trees. Well I do my research and have been unable to locate this tree on national registers. Never trust everything you read on the web. So after some digging I find a Moreton Bay Fig in San Diego that is taller. This particular registry calls the Santa Barbara tree the one with the largest canopy. The national registry’s are typically for native North American trees. The Moreton Bay Fig was brought to the US from Easter Australia. So… What are you going to believe? Who knows? Well I sure don’t know for sure. I am sure that this tree is huge, ginormous, really big, impressive and well worthy of a visit when in Santa Barbara. It is very near the Amtrak Station. One big tree for sure! Although this trees in not a registered California Landmark, it sure seems to me that it is an incredible Landmark!

Nice sightseeing spot in Santa Barbara to take some pictures!
I have never seen this kinda tree before and it was amazing to see in person.
Must see place in SB

A nice tour spot when you’re traveling to or through Santa Barbara. Nice way to kill 20 minutes. The tree is beautiful and it’s right next to the old train car. Good spot to snap a few photos. Don’t forget the selfie stick so you can show off how massive the tree is!

Who knew that a fig tree can be so big? This is a great place to stop for photos for locals and tourists. Technically, you’re not supposed to cross the «line» but there’s not much supervision out there — you could climb the roots, but do so at your own risk!
There’s figs everywhere, especially those that have fallen down from the tree. Parking is easy (there’s free parking along the street).

Trying to extend a weekend adventure with Schoolteacher, I looked at my route home on my new ‘Huell Howser’ edition California Roadmap. Along our route I saw many exciting and interesting things, but this one wasn’t too far off the path, and seemed like a neat quick lil stop along the way. I caught sight of it down the road a bit, and looked around for someplace to park.
It’s adjacent to the train/​bus depot, and if you park in that lot for less than an hour, it’s free. I pulled in, and excitedly ran over to the colossal tree like a child. I hopped a small chain fence and ran under the shady area created by it’s massive spread of leaves. It’s roots were spread out over a huge area and provided an interesting place to explore and climb on.
The story behind this tree is this, over a century ago, a seaman gifted the tree to a local girl, who planted it. It was moved to this location after the girl moved away. Now, at 139 years of age, it’s sat and grown and spread it’s roots over a huge area. It’s even on the official California Registry of big trees. They think it’s the largest Moreton Bay Fig tree in all of North America!
I climbed and photographed and had my picture taken with the massive thing. As I climbed about, I secretly wondered what it had seen over the period of its long life. Years of people had carved their initials into the tree, and I frowned when I saw some trash had accumulated amongst the crevices created by the raised roots.
As I climbed back over the low chain fence to head back to the car, I looked back at a small sign that stood on a chain pole. The sign briefly told the history of the tree, and asked that the tree be enjoyed from behind the chain fence. Oops. I shall do that next time I visit the tree. With luck, more people will read the sign first, then follow it’s instructions. With luck, the tree will still be here another century or two for future generations to enjoy.
Definately worth the fifteen minute stop, this was a really cool thing to see. Thanks California.
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‘Tis a shame more people don’t appreciate outstanding trees. I feel sorrow that they never learnt to do this. On another hand, the less some people know about certain trees, the better their chance for survival.
This is the most impressive tree I’ve ever seen. It’s not nearly as old as lots of trees by a longshot nor nearly as famous.
I’ve been studying trees in depth for about 15 years. Made lots of trips to distant lands to see marvelous specimens. This once takes the cake, though the tree wouldn’t appreciate you taking cake to it Delicious, perhaps, but not for a fig tree. Not even a fig cake would work.
To imagine that you could have one of these as a houseplant boggles the mind.
This is easily the best attraction around Santa Barbara. So here’s where I go off on a tangent in case you want to stop here.
Nothing in the world shows this kind of history. Man can build things and destroy things, but all it takes is water and some neglect for these things to develop all sorts of character and live up to thousands of years.
This tree is a little over a hundred years old. Imagine what it would become if it lived on for a thousand years. Of course it won’t. Humans won’t allow that to happen. At least not in the U.S. Come and see this before it’s just a memory.

The tree is located in a somewhat peaceful spot that only sees bustling activity when a train is coming or going. The tree is iconic, a symbol of Santa Barbara. Much like the lost cannon, it is a random historical accident that forever holds a place in the hearts and minds of the people of Santa Barbara.
It’s supposedly the biggest fig tree of its kind in North America. I don’t know how or who is going to track that sort of thing.

MUST SEE!!!
I was on Unilocal bookmarking must see places in S.B. I came across this amazing Fig tree. I’m a tree lover! No I don’t hug them… I do love climbing them though.
This tree is eye candy!!! As soon as you spot it from a distance you will be awww-​ed by its size. But as you come. closer and closer you will be amazed by the shape of its roots and trunk.
This friendship tree should certainly shared with a friend. Take a buddy, a partner in crime, or the lovely kids. This is again a must see. You can’t pass this up.
The beauty of this historical landmark may turn you into a bit of a poet:
«And she hide underneath the shade of the ginormous fig tree, it protected her like a huge umbrella over her entire body… it loved her back in ways only trees do. It’s leaves rustled in the breeze… providing a sense of real peace, a deep calmness, as she could sit or stand all day, embracing the comfort of the moment. A moment beneath a ginormous fig tree!»

The bark was very dry and the staff was absent the whole time.
TERRIBLE PLACE TO EAT, DO NOT RECOMMEND

If you’re visiting Santa Barbara, this is definitely one of the stops you must visit.
This tree is huge! When I was here, there were 2 groups of people doing photoshoots. We did our own little shoot as well. Really fun, and if you’re brave enough, you can go climb it. Just don’t hurt yourself in the process.

And it’s only just a tree.
But that’s why it’s even more exiting to be outside, don’t have to spend anything and still have a lot of fun. Yes it’s just a tree but a huge one.
We spent at least 20 min here climbing up the roots and branches. The roots can be a wall for you. Taking pictures and going literally back to the roots can be very calming.
So switch off your phone, get your hands dirty and see how high you can climb.

How could I not give something this beautiful 5 stars? It doesn’t take more than five minutes to visit the tree but it’s something you’ll not want to miss sharing with your kids when visiting Santa Barbara. There is a small chain around the tree and families are encouraged to not allow their children to climb the tree even though it’s very tempting. Next to the tree is an old train car to show the kids and a historical site where the Spanish army camped in the 1800’s. Lots of history + beauty!

The Moreton Bay Fig Tree is located off of Montecito Street in Santa Barbara. It is supposedly regarded as the largest fig tree in the US. The history goes as a seaman offering a seedling of the Australian Moreton Bay Fig tree to a local girl back in 1876; she planted the seed initially on 201 Street. However, when this girl moved away, her friend transplanted the tree on the corner of Montecito and Chapala streets, a few blocks away from the ocean. In 1970, the tree was officially designated as a historical landmark, deeded to the city of Santa Barbara. It’s a nice large tree and quite beautiful to look at. A great little pit-​stop if you’re in the SB area: D
+largest fig tree in the US: D

Who reviews a tree? Honestly?
Well, it’s seriously one big tree!
In fact, this big tree is considered by most people (& Wikipedia) to be the largest Ficus Macrophylla (aka Moreton Bay Fig) in the U.S. It’s also listed as one of Santa Barbara’s historic tourist attractions. So, if you like trees … big trees … take about 20 minutes to check it out.
The Moreton Bay Fig Tree is in a park on the «other side» of the PCH about a block from the Santa Barbara Amtrak Station. Since most of us don’t travel by train, you’ll find street parking for 90 minutes on Montecito. The park surrounding the tree isn’t anything special. There was a gang of retirees hangin’ out when we went at sunset on a Friday.
* The tree was designated as a historic landmark in 1970
* The land was donated to Santa Barbara in 1976
* It is considered a «landmark» by Santa Barbara
* It is officially listed in the California Register of Big Trees
* In July 1997, it was 80 ft tall; 41 ½ ft circumference; & crown of 176 ft
According to a plaque on site, this is the story of Moreton Bay Fig Tree.
«In 1876, a visiting sailor presented the seedling of this Moreton Bay Fig (ficus macrophylla) to a local girl who planted it at 201 State Street. When the girl moved away a year later, her friend Adeline Crabb relocated the sapling to its current location (at the corner of Montecito St. and Chapala St.).»

Imagine a tree that was planted in 1876 and is STILL THRIVING !!! Imagine the roots to this tree, and you have the Moreton Bay Fig Tree in Santa Barbara. I have been coming to this tree ever since I was a little girl, and the fact that I’m going to turn 60 this week is a testament that I have been watching this tree continue to grow for many, many years !! I actually hadn’t seen this tree in quite awhile, and since my husband had never seen it (until now), it brought back many family memories for me while my hubby can now start making his own memories. It is the largest tree I know of, well, perhaps not the tallest as with the Sequoias or Redwoods, but perhaps the largest fig tree I know of. Next time you’re in Santa Barbara, go take a look !!

OMG, few days ago we got lost in the city and found this huge, beautiful, tree. It is so interesting I will recommend definitely everyone who visits Santa Barbara to see this gigantic tree.
It is amazing !!!