Colombia's Largest Tree Is So Big in Diameter, It Has Grown Pillars to Support Its Branches

What’s the biggest tree in the world? General Sherman is certainly at the top of contenders, but then look at this. In the depths of Colombia’s Caribbean region, there is a tree some mistakenly call ‘The Tree of Guacarí’, which was another enormous tree in the same area, rather similar in looks to the tree we are presenting now. That tree, otherwise called the Samán of Guacarí, used to feature on Colombian 500 peso coins in the 90s.

It was a Samanea saman, also sometimes known as a rain tree, and was cut down in 1989 as its thick branches began to detach. The original 'The Tree of Guacarí' – a different tree of a different species, nevertheless looking similar. But the tree this article is about is different. It's not another iconic Samanea saman, even though it really looks like it. No, it's actually a Ficus, commonly known as fig tree – the popular ornamental plant you will find in gardens and homes all around the globe. And it has grown huge. Image credit: Eréndira Rodríguez