Moreton Bay Fig Tree

Its a fine tree, maybe the finest tree in the area. Will say as well that though its a pity the tree is now fenced off, one has to be impressed with the quality of the fencing material itself. It may be the finest fencing I have ever seen, and certainly carries a high enough quality of material and workmanship to be used with this noble tree in which we should all stand in awe. To summarize, the tree is a masterpiece as is the fencing surrounding said tree. A must visit for sure. Go for the tree, stay for the fencing.

Who the fuck reviews a TREE?! A goddamn tree! Serious?! And how do you give something like this less than five stars?! What??? Was the tree not producing enough oxygen?! Jesus people. The reason the fence is there is to keep your little turds from climbing it and falling out and suing the city. It’s also there because all of our fat asses, at one point, were walking around the base, compacting the sediments. Leaving the root
system unable to sustain itself with such density, the city put up the fence to keep us off the canopy. (seriously– go ask a botanist in the museum, they’ll tell you what’s up).

Just got back to Seattle from a vacation in San Diego. I read the reviews of this tree on Unilocal ahead of time, and I was expecting it to be the highlight of the trip. Spoiler alert: It wasn’t (Pacific Beach and Gao-​Gao the panda tied for first place, third place was the All-​You-​Can-​Eat section at the Padres/​D-​backs game).
First of all, let me say that it’s really hard to get under the shade of this tree around noon to 4 – the time of day when shade is most important – because there’s a fence surrounding it, so if the sun is directly above you, beating down on your pale Pacific Northwest skin, this tree is going to provide approximately zero protection from the sun’s harmful rays.
Also, the tree isn’t very tall. It’s just super wide, and the roots go out really far. This would be a cool tree if you could climb on it, but again, there’s a fence.
If you’re in the area, I’d suggest that you make the trek through the park (Balboa park is amazing, and beautiful) and take a look at the tree for yourself, but by no means should you plan a trip around it.

I love this tree. It is fantastic that is still exists. It’s too bad that there have been people that have damaged it.

It’s a nice, albiet very large, tree located in Balboa Park. It was planted for the 1915 Panama-​California Exposition.
Until the late 1980s, children were allowed to climb the tree but due to heavy foot traction, which damaged the tree’s roots, it was put to an end.
Here is the history of this tree:

Hapless tourists wander around Balboa Park gawking at all the beautiful architecture and fancy museums but what is-​to me-​one of the most wonderful things to see: The Moreton Bay Fig Tree!
A monster of a tree with the widest girth in all the state of California!
The Fig Tree is listed in the California Registry of Big Trees as one of the «champion trees of the state.» The registry indicates the tree measured in 1996 about 78 feet high, with a crown width of 123 feet and a trunk girth of 486 inches! This tree-​planted in 1914-​is a whopper and unbelievably impressive in person! Gazing up at it’s mighty branches and height-​one can feel so much-​the majesty of nature!
Kids all over San Diego remember climbing around the roots of this tree as children. In fact, I remember being so impressed with this tree as a child, that I put my arms around what I could grab of it and started kissing and hugging it! Perhaps this might mean I am one of the original «tree-​huggers?» Unfortunately, heavy foot traffic caused soil compaction and damaged the delicate surface-​feeding roots of the tree .It was a terrible thing when the tree began a slow decline. Trimmed and fenced off in 1989, mulch was shoveled on and allowed to accumulate. The tree has since recovered and once again shows good, healthy growth and glossy foliage.
I am appalled that other Unilocal-​ers would use this beautiful tree as a vantage point for staring at passing women and letting their dog go to the bathroom. Situated midway between Spanish Village and the San Diego Natural History Museum, the Moreton Bay Fig is a reminder of the wonderful history of Balboa Park and Kate Sessions-​who planted and landscaped so much of our early city. I think it’s time I go pay the Fig a courtesy visit and give it another big hug!

I’ve many a fond memory of climbing this tree.
Too bad some idiot kids got stuck in the tree while trying to climb it effectively ruining it for the rest of us.

I like to sit under this tree on a warm san diego day with my sunglasses on and watch the scenery (women-​folk) walk by. Make sure you spend a little bit extra on the glasses though to make sure that people can’t see your wandering eyes!
My little pup fluffy loves this tree as well. He’s tinkled/​shat on it more than I can remember.
If you ever see me sitting on the bench come over and say hi, just don’t offer to shake my hand :)