Moreton Bay Fig Tree

Moreton Bay Fig Tree is the largest tree of its kind in the nation. The tree is located near lower State Street near the railroad tracks. It is located at the intersection of Chapala street and the 101 freeway close to the Amtrak train station. This tree was planted in 1874 by a girl who was given the tree by sailors who brought it over from Australia. In 1877, it was transplanted to the girl's front yard. The span of the leaves from one end of the tree to the other is 160 feet and it provides over 21,000 square feet of shade. This is a huge tree. Some of the roots grow on the surface and they are a few feet tall. Recently a small iron fence has been constructed around this tree so you can no longer climb on the large roots and in the tree itself. This is good for the tree, but not as enjoyable for all the children!

This was a popular spot for the homeless to hang out in years past and they even tried to use "moreton bay fig tree" as a street address. With the renovation of the train station nearby, this tree doesn't seem to attract as many homeless people anymore. This area is about as bad as a Santa Barbara neighborhood gets. I say this 'tongue in cheek' because this really isn't that bad of a neighborhood - but when compared to most of Santa Barbara's neighborhoods, its not quite as "opulent"!