''Magnolia grandiflora'' (Brooklyn)

Magnolia grandiflora
The magnolia in 2009.
Location 679 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn, New York City
Coordinates 40°41′25.8″N 73°56′23.9994″W / 40.690500°N 73.939999833°W / 40.690500; -73.939999833Coordinates: 40°41′25.8″N 73°56′23.9994″W / 40.690500°N 73.939999833°W / 40.690500; -73.939999833
Governing body Magnolia Tree Earth Center
Designated May 12, 1970
Location of Magnolia grandiflora in New York City

The Magnolia grandiflora at 679 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn is one of two trees that are designated a New York City landmark. The specimen is a rare example of a flourishing laurel magnolia growing as far north as New York. The tree was brought as a seedling from North Carolina and planted around 1885 by William Lemken.[1] Beginning in the 1950s, it was protected by Hattie Carthan, who enlisted neighborhood schoolchildren to help raise money to protect the tree, which was threatened by the construction of a parking lot.[1]

After the tree's designation as a landmark, Carthan founded Magnolia Tree Earth Center, a non-profit focused on urban beautification and environmental awareness.[2] The center is housed in the brownstone adjacent to the tree.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Magnolia grandiflora, 679 Lafayette Avenue, Borough of Brooklyn, c. 1885 (PDF)
  2. ↑ Wedderburn, Winton. "New Leadership at Bed Stuy's Magnolia Tree Earth Center". Brooklyn Food Coalition. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
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