July/August 2014 | 35
Every Tree
Tells a Story
Survivor-Turned-Champion
M
iami-Dade County, Fla., has had its share
of hurricanes. But nothing shakes its
nearly 350-year-old national champion tree.
This co-champion pigeon-plum not only
withstands the strong winds, heavy rains and
debris accumulation associated with the Atlantic
Coastline's frequent notorious hurricanes, but
it has also survived Miami's fast transformation
into a hub of subdivisions and tourist resorts
after the 1920s real estate boom. The growth
occurred so quickly—"like magic"—Miami
came to be known as the "Magic City."
Yet, as one of the few counties with its own
archeologist on staff, Miami-Dade boasts such
a rich, unique history. Within its 2,000 square
miles—one-third of which is located in
Everglades National Park—exist the sites
of numerous ceremonial artifact discoveries
of objects dating back 2,000 years.
Although Miami-Dade's impressive
pigeon-plum tree isn't quite that old, it's
featured in archival photographs from 1917,
at which time it was almost as large as it was
when Ian Simpkins nominated it in 2012:
42 feet tall, 28 feet wide. Today, the tree
appears in the 2014 National Register of
Big Tree Calendar, which Davey sponsors.
The pigeon-plum tree thrives on
moist, well-drained soils, and its tolerance
of urban conditions and salt makes it ideal
for streetscapes and parking lots. While its
fruit falls to the ground during two months
of the year, the tree's large, gorgeous canopy
and interesting bark generate shade appeal
and visual interest for the persistent
pigeon-plum.
