Moreton Bay Fig Tree

Planted for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition, this Australian native is one of the three largest Moreton Bay Figs in California, with a trunk girth exceeding 40 feet. Generations of San Diegans climbed its base until heavy foot traffic damaged the root system. It was fenced off in 1989 to let the compacted soil recover, prompting a resurgence of glossy foliage and descending aerial roots. While hands-on scrambling is firmly in the past, the tree still provides sprawling daytime shade and serves as a vibrant illuminated landmark during Balboa Park December Nights.