The Magnificent Banyan Trees Slowly Disappearing from Marco’s Landscape

It is impossible to miss the banyan tree due to their size and unique features. On Marco, we have a handful left and most of them are located on the bigger lots in South Barfield and Caxambas Drive. Banyan trees are known for their longevity, and the trees on Marco are at least 80 years old and most likely reproduced from seeds, which were often dispersed by birds that ate the fruits.

Unfortunately, banyan trees in the residential landscape in Florida are increasingly less popular with developers due to their size and safety concerns. The Lake Worth Drainage District in April 2026 voted to remove a massive 75-year-old banyan tree at the Delray Beach Golf Course despite citizens’ efforts to save it. On Marco’s South Barfield neighborhood, a popular banyan tree stands impressively in the middle of a circular driveway on a waterfront lot where contractors just tore down the existing house and are getting ready to build a new one. It remains to be seen if the contractor or new homeowner is going to keep this impressive banyan tree. I am waiting for the contractor’s reply to my inquiry.

There are several other majestic banyans on Marco; most of them survived Hurricane Irma and are looking very well preserved. The banyan tree located at the Edison and Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers is considered one of the largest in the continental United States, with a canopy that covers over an acre of land. It was given to Thomas Edison by Harvey Firestone in 1925 as a four-foot-high sapling. This is worth a visit just to be amazed by its massive size!

The banyan tree, scientifically known as Ficus bengalensis, belongs to the Fig family. It is native to the Indian subcontinent and is recognized and set apart from the other big trees for its incredible sprawling growth habits. It does not just grow upwards; it expands outwards to become a true giant.

The most unique feature is its aerial prop root that grows down from the branches, and once they reach the soil, they thicken and become woody, looking like just another new branch. Banyan trees are often referred to as “walking trees” since their aerial roots allow the tree to expand its footprint, creating the illusion that the tree is moving or walking across the landscape.

The size of its canopy is another special feature of the banyan tree, resembling a small forest rather than a single tree, and according to experts, they create their own ecosystem, feeding and sheltering an entire community of local wildlife. The extensive root system prevents soil erosion and stabilizes the ground, and the shade blocks sunlight and cools the air.

Banyan trees hold profound cultural significance to cultures in India where they are regarded as sacred symbols of wisdom, longevity, and immortality. The banyan trees are usually planted near temples and revered in Hinduism and Buddhism. Due to its size, the banyan tree serves as an important gathering place in many communities in India – almost like an outdoor community center – making it a hub of social and cultural exchange.

Take a moment during your neighborhood walk to admire one of these true giants of nature and snap a photo. Most of them are on private properties so you are not going to experience the prop roots up close. But if you want an iconic experience, the banyan tree at Old Naples at the corner of Gordon Drive and 12th Avenue South, near the Naples Pier, is Beardy Banyan! Locals say it’s been in Naples forever and has quite a following!