Magnolia grandiflora (Brooklyn)

The Magnolia grandiflora is a historic tree at 679 Lafayette Avenue in Bedford–Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York City. The specimen is a rare example of a flourishing laurel magnolia growing as far north as New York, having been brought as a seedling from North Carolina and planted around 1885 by William Lemken.[1] It is one of two trees that were made New York City designated landmarks; the other was the now-euthanized Weeping Beech in Flushing, Queens.

This article is about a tree in Brooklyn. For the species, see Magnolia grandiflora.

Magnolia grandiflora
The magnolia in 2009
Location	679 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn, New York City
Coordinates	40.6905°N 73.9467°W / 40.6905; -73.9467
Governing body	Magnolia Tree Earth Center
New York City Landmark
Designated	May 12, 1977
Reference no.	0957
Location of Magnolia grandiflora in New York City

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 was made as a landmark, Carthan founded Magnolia Tree Earth Center, a nonprofit focused on urban beautification and environmental awareness.[2] The center is housed in the brownstone adjacent to the tree.

See also

• List of New York City Designated Landmarks in Brooklyn

References

1. "Magnolia grandiflora, 679 Lafayette Avenue" (PDF). New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. 1977-05-12. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
2. Wedderburn, Winton. "New Leadership at Bed Stuy's Magnolia Tree Earth Center". Brooklyn Food Coalition. Archived from the original on 6 July 2013. Retrieved 29 October 2013.