MOrton Bay Fig

[fastfeat]

Here are a few in Coral Gables, FL. They don't seem as vigorous here in FL as CA, let alone Oz. In fairness, these trees have been through their share of hurricanes and have been root-pruned severely to keep sidewalks smooth.

One with an epiphytic Phoenix reclinata:

[swamptreenelly]

The Morton Bay Fig can be propagated by cuttings at least a couple of inches thick X 2-3' long in potting soil misted in a greenhouse twice a day. I have used baseball bat size cuttings to propagate this tree.

[osideterry]

I was driving around town and found this tree by accident. Needless to say, I had to get out of the car and take pictures, even though it would make me late for a client meeting. These are with my phone. I didn't have time to play around on it, but plan to take my son there soon.

[osideterry]

This is of course the same tree in Oceanside as the original in this topic. I decide to track it down on googlearth and measure it.

The first photo is of it in relation to surrounding houses. The second is measuring the thing... roughly a 100ft circle. Same size as my yard.

The last photo is going as high as possible and still being able to see it. Look dead center.

[DoomsDave]

I was driving around town and found this tree by accident. Needless to say, I had to get out of the car and take pictures, even though it would make me late for a client meeting. These are with my phone. I didn't have time to play around on it, but plan to take my son there soon.

TREES!

Today, San Diego!

Tomorrow, the world . . . .

[MattyB]

That was cool Terry!

I decided to do the same thing with the Spring Valley tree, supposedly the oldest in CA.

112 feet across!

It's not as dramatic as your "zoom out" shot because this is a low lying area w/ a creek, and there are lots of very large trees on these larger than average lots.

And the final zoom out that you can still see it; just to the right of the "Y" in Spring Valley.

[osideterry]

Matty - That one has the coolest roots of any photos I've seen.

Bubba mentioned the big one in Santa Barbara. I saw it several years ago on a weekend their. Not sure about it's age, but it is almost twice as wide as the one in Oceanside.

(on closer look, I think I measured the shadow on that... probably closer to 170ft)

[DoomsDave]

Here's the Wikipedia blurb on The Santa Barbara Moreton Bay Fig:

"Santa Barbara's Moreton Bay Fig Tree located in Santa Barbara, California is believed to be the largest Ficus macrophylla in the country[1]. The original Moreton Bay Fig tree was of 5 seeds planted on site with the outside skin grown there, between State and Montecito Streets and grew to a width of 154 feet (47 m). The present(2010) Moreton bay Fig tree was planted there in 1959, from 12 seeds supplied by the Southern Pacific Railroad,because the original was diseased. The original was removed in 1960. Measured in 2010, the widest spread of the branches is 198 feet (60 m). In July 1997 the circumference of the tree at 4-1/2 feet above ground was 498 inches (41-1/2 feet). The average crown spread was 176 feet and the total height was 80 feet. Measured in November 1991, the branch spread was 167 feet (51 m) with a total height of 76 feet (23 m). The trunk diameter above the buttress roots is 12.5 feet[2]."

That's one big fig . . . .

Which begs the question: I'm sure there are bigger ones in OZ, but, where, and I suspect they don't set apart like the American ones do . . . .

[ThunderSRQ]

This immediately became one of my all-time favorite trees after discovering this beautiful specimen at Selby Gardens here in Sarasota -- although not as large as those CA trees, this one has a very cool root system (I then went on a mission to find one and have been pondering for almost two years now if I should plant it out or make it a bonsai specimen -- I live on an acre with adjacent additional open land and have a large area at the corner of my property "just waiting"... )

Tim

[fastfeat]

I'm trying to source one of these (or a F. altissima or F. mysorensis/F. drupacea) in a 24", 30" or 36" box for the City of Santa Ana. If anyone has a line on one of these, please send me a PM.

[BS Man about Palms]

This is of course the same tree in Oceanside as the original in this topic. I decide to track it down on googlearth and measure it.

The first photo is of it in relation to surrounding houses. The second is measuring the thing... roughly a 100ft circle. Same size as my yard.

The last photo is going as high as possible and still being able to see it. Look dead center.

Hey! My house is in that 3rd photo!!

[MattyB]

That's crazy to think that the Santa Barbara tree was only planted in 1959 and is bigger than the Spring Valley tree planted in 1874! There is ground water in Spring Valley so that's not it. Maybe it's a cooler climate that it's loving, or maybe it's been fertilized in that lawn for years.

[bubba]

I have to agree with Matt. When I saw that tree in Santa Barbara, I swear I remember that it was planted in the 1850's. Maybe they moved it but that does not seem right. Also, I do not remember it having the wild Banyan Root Flanges like the one in Spring Valley. Those Root Flanges remind me of the Giant Kapok on South Lake Trail in Florida.

I read that Florida's Moreton Figs are much younger because the seed arrived from Australia first in California.They take time to get so impressive. So once again, I find it very hard to believe that the Santa Barbara Moreton was planted circa 1950. That would be so far beyond steroids that it would be the end of baseball!

Now that wonderful Meleauca product that Florida received from Australia has done it's damage in Florida in quick order. However, you can almost watch those trees grow in this area. Of course, somehow we gave Australia our infamous Pond Apples that have become a nuisance in Australia. Sorry.

[DoomsDave]

That's crazy to think that the Santa Barbara tree was only planted in 1959 and is bigger than the Spring Valley tree planted in 1874! There is ground water in Spring Valley so that's not it. Maybe it's a cooler climate that it's loving, or maybe it's been fertilized in that lawn for years.

I'm inclined to agree that the Wiki entry might contain a typo on the year of planting.

One way to find out . . . . Someone call the city of Santy Babs and ask!

[osideterry]

The wikipedia page on Moreton Bay Figs states the following...

Notable specimens

Large specimens of Moreton Bay Fig Trees are found in many parks and properties throughout eastern and north-eastern Australia. The Brisbane and Sydney botanical gardens contain numerous specimens planted in the middle of the nineteenth century. These figs are on average of 30–35 metres in height and 40 metres in width. Currently the tallest Moreton Bay Fig is found on a cattle farm near Egg Rock in the Numinbah valley of Queensland and measured 49 metres (161 feet) in 2006. There are many large specimens in New Zealand. A Moreton Bay Fig at Pahi on the Kaipara Harbour, Northland, was measured in 1984 as 26.5 metres (86.9 feet) high and 48.5 meters (159 feet) wide. Several large specimens grow in California, U.S.A.. The tallest in North America is in back of San Diego's Natural History Museum and was planted in 1914. By 1996 it stood 23.7 metres (78 feet) high and 37.4 metres (123 feet) across. The widest Moreton Bay Fig in North America is the Santa Barbara's Moreton Bay Fig Tree. It was planted in 1876, reportedly by a sailor, and measured 53.6 metres (176 feet) across in 1997. It was once a tourist attraction. Santa Monica resident and United States Senator John P. Jones planted a Moreton Bay Fig in a corner of his estate in 1889, which became the patio of the Miramar Hotel in 1921. There is a notable specimen sprawling on steps at the Botanical Garden of the University of Coimbra, Portugal. Impressive specimens also grow in the Orto Botanico in Palermo, Italy, and in some squares in the oldest part of the city.

Now we have some specimens for you Aussies to go photograph.

I noticed on googlearth another big Moreton Bay Fig about 5 blocks from the main one in this topic. I'm going to go check it out this afternoon.

[MattyB]

looks like a different color, maybe different. And they've shaved off the house side.

[osideterry]

It wasn't a Moreton Bay Fig, but it was 100 feet in diameter. It was also 100 ft tall. Some kind of coniferous tree but very round instead of conical.

[MattyB]

Hmmmm, take any pictures? Torrey Pine maybe?

[paulgila]

i used to walk to & from school past the spring valley tree & always wondered about the old house on that lot. it was remodeled a bit in the 90s,i think.matt do you know any of the history of that house?

[sur4z]

i used to walk to & from school past the spring valley tree & always wondered about the old house on that lot. it was remodeled a bit in the 90s,i think.matt do you know any of the history of that house?

Was the walk up hill and against the wind...BOTH ways? Who's got the figgy pudding? I think Norman and his Mom lived in the house.

[osideterry]

No pictures. It wasn't pretty, just scruffy. I didn't even stop the car. Next time I go back I'll take a photo, unless it's still too boring.

[BS Man about Palms]

I saw an interesting one by Kims house today... I think on Santa Barbara street?...

1075 Santa Barabara st in Point loma I think...

[MattyB]

i used to walk to & from school past the spring valley tree & always wondered about the old house on that lot. it was remodeled a bit in the 90s,i think.matt do you know any of the history of that house?

I was just talking to Ron, the owner today. We go to the same church. He's gonna give me some branches for cuttings and some seedlings next Summer when they germinate them every year. Here's the History tab of their website which tells you the history of the ranch. Ranch House Spring Valley was the second oldest settlement area after Old Town I think, due to the fresh spring water that they discovered the Native Americans were using.

[osideterry]

Hmmmm, take any pictures? Torrey Pine maybe?

If it's not Torrey, maybe a Monterrey Pine. Imagine having a tree in the backyard that is wider than your whole property on 3 sides and covers most of the front yard. I guess it would provide canopy.

[philinsydney]

Here's a large Moreton Bay fig in the Sydney Botanic Gardens, along with a "greenleaved Moreton Bay fig" F. watkinsiana

The F. macrophylla is said to be the largest one in Sydney.

[philinsydney]

Here's another nice one I photographed in a Newcastle street (100 miles N of Sydney).

[tropicbreeze]

No Moreton Bay Figs around here that I know of. But we do have just over a dozen native species of Ficus. One of the ones I like at my place doesn't have large buttress roots but has been turning aerial roots into multiple trunks. So no worries about ground heaving upwards. Not sure about what area it'll end up taking over though. Overall it's only about 12 metres high.

[Eric in Orlando]

There is a good sized one at Disney's Polynesian Resort, planted back in the early 1970s when WDW first opened

[Eric in Orlando]

And here is one here at Leu Gardens. I grew it from a cutting off the Disney tree in the previous post. It was planted about 1995 and is about 40ft tall now and starting to develop aerial roots and buttress roots

[_Keith]

I photographed all of the ones in Louisiana. Here you go.

[Eric in Orlando]

Anyone growing Ficus destruens? Its native to NE Queensland, Australia. The species, destruens, means "destroyer" as it can grow as a large strangler-type. Any of the Australians have photos of this species? I will start a new thread.

[Eric in Orlando]

I photographed all of the ones in Louisiana. Here you go.

[philinsydney]

Have you ever seen so many M.B.F.s? These two photos were taken from the same spot.

[philinsydney]

another view

[raimeiken]

I love this tree. I took home a fruit when I visited San Diego 2 years ago and grew quite a few seedlings.

I'm planning on planting one of them in ground in my backyard soon, but I'm worried that it might take over the neighborhood lol! Can this tree be kept in check by pruning it? or will its root system take over anyway even if the top is pruned? I live in Phoenix, AZ which is pretty arid climate compared to San Diego, so I don't think it'll get invasive here but I'd like to get someone's opinion.

[bubba]

Great thread

[epiphyte]

Wonderful thread and photos! It motivated me to dig through my archives and find a few old photos...and even a crappy video!! heh

Here's a photo of the one in Balboa Park...

Ficus macrophylla Balboa Park by epiphyte78, on Flickr

A photo of the one in Santa Barbara...

Ficus macrophylla Santa Barbara by epiphyte78, on Flickr

The sign...

Ficus macrophylla Santa Barbara Sign by epiphyte78, on Flickr

...and a very bumpy video.

As you can tell...Ficus macrophylla is definitely one of my favorite trees! Dang, how many epiphytes could fit on these giants?!

I have maybe half a dozen of these trees in my yard...all in pots of course. Haven't had a chance to do much with them. It's fun when I procrastinate cutting the drainage hole roots. One that's sitting on a 2' high bench started growing a little too great...and I discovered that of course its roots had reached the ground.

This is the only one I've had a chance to haphazardly attach some epiphytes to...

Ficus Bonsai with Epiphytes by epiphyte78, on Flickr

At least I think it's a macrophylla!

It's neat to see the Ficus roots crawling over the orchid roots crawling over the Anthurium roots. That's what got me interested in Ficus in the first places was the aerial roots. Hmmm...I should lift the entire thing up out of the pot and place some orchid bark almost to the top of the pot. That will provide some additional root exposure once the top medium runs off! It will probably look a bit wiggidy wack...not that I'll mind though.

[virtualpalm]

Does anyone know of a source of seed?