This by far is one of the largest Live Oak Trees I have ever seen. According to satellite images this massive Oak is 120 feet across. If you walk the outer edges of it’s 60 foot plus high canopy you would easily walk a 330 foot circle.
I came across this Live Oak as we walked the Hickory Hammock Trail on the west side of the Kissimmee River, just north of Fort Basinger and southeast of Lorida, Florida.
The Live Oak is so large that the central leader of the tree is pushing downward to the soil while it’s branches raise and loop high in the air like fingers reaching for the sky.
I wonder if the Seminole Indian walked by this tree. When Seminole Leader Osceola was captured in 1837, could you wrap your hand around it’s trunk? Was it here when John Wilkes Booth ran out of Ford’s Theater for the last time? Was it here when my Great Grandfather was funneled through Ellis Island in 1901?
It has survived countless hurricanes, wildfires, not to mention lightning strikes, flooding, and man. When you look at its image from Google Earth the Live Oak stands alone closest to the Kissimmee River. This Oak planted by man, animal, bird, or wind has been protected from the time it was a seedling, the past voices of the Seminole lay in the cambium of her trunk.
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That’s one big tree. Looks like a giant knot of wood from your photo. And not often that an individual tree inspires such awe. It must be a giant!
Holy cow– that satellite image really tells the tale. The tree looks like a whole forest from above! Great post!
What a spectacular tree! I was especially impressed at the sight of the tough old Live oaks that survived after Hurricane Katrina.
Thanks Vicky and Dave, It is amazing looking at trees after a hurricane, trees you think would have fallen stand proud and trees you thought were timeless lay or are snapped. Full canopies and ground saturation are among the culprits, but the Hurricane wind acts like a weed whacker chopping pine tress at 30 feet leaving a meandering reminder as to her awe.
In the quiet of the night I dwell on that Oak, I need to get back to take measurements before the rains come or it will be a wet sloshing hike.
The Live Oak is one of my favorite trees and this one sure seems unique. Thanks for the post.
Thanks Les, it was love at fist sight.
Bart
Evocative observations. Thanks for sharing this GRAND TREE with us.
Hey Bart:
I came across your wonderful live oak post while catching up on your web site. I have several comments that also relate to the urban oak compromised by banding and poor pruning.
1. Live oak are especially good at resisting hurricane damage with small leaves that do not catch the wind and are shed at relatively low wind speeds.
2. They may also be good at repairing which may account for the contorted trunks.
3. If not pruned they develop multiple large branches at all heights above the ground and never get a simple Y shape that would be vulnerable to splitting
4. The wide spread with drooping and then rising large branches of open-grown and unpruned individuals is simply amazing.
5. In semi-wooded situations live oaks get high densities of epiphytes on their rough bark, especially resurrection fern. Did your giant tree by the Kissimmee have many epiphytes?
Cheers, Tom
Afriend of mine has several on his properity (that is for sale ) one is 27 feet around at the base. the properity is near fort white fl wite 1700 ft of river frountage, the tree is near river next to his house. get to see it every day.
Thanks Randy, Can you send a Pic-would love to see it.
Hello Randy