05/17/2025
A banyan tree in Florida, which is native to India and other areas of Asia and the Pacific. This tree is one of the few furthest north in Florida that has been able to survive to this size. Banyans were first brought to Florida back in the 1920s by Harvey Firestone as a gift to Thomas Edison in Ft Myers. Along with Henry Ford they were trying to find a cheaper alternative to the rubber trees they used for tires. The tree is the national tree of India and holds spiritual significance in many Asian cultures and religions such as signifying fertility and growth.
