Tree of Life (Louisiana)

The Tree of Life, also known as the Étienne de Boré Oak, is a large, historic southern live oak (Quercus virginiana) in Audubon Park in New Orleans, Louisiana. Adjacent to Audubon Zoo's giraffe exhibit, the old and popular park landmark was planted around 1740.^[3]

Tree of Life
The tree in 2021
Tree of Life Audubon Park, New Orleans, Louisiana Show map of New Orleans Tree of Life Tree of Life (Louisiana) Show map of Louisiana Tree of Life Tree of Life (the United States) Show map of the United States
Species	Southern live oak (Quercus virginiana)
Coordinates	29.9210°N 90.1293°W / 29.9210; -90.1293
Height	60 ft (18 m)[1]
Girth	35 ft (11 m)[2]
Date seeded	~1740

The tree is commonly hugged and climbed.^[4][5] Its crown is draped with Spanish moss. The tree's size and age led it to become one of the 43 inaugural members of the Live Oak Society.^[2][3][6]

History

The tree is said to have been planted by Étienne de Boré, the first Mayor of New Orleans, in 1771, as a wedding gift to his wife.^[7] However, this is just a rumor, as a sign adjacent to the tree says that it was planted around 1740.^[2]