The Angel Oak is a Southern live oak tree near Charleston, SC that is estimated to be over 400 years old and one of the oldest living trees in the United States. At 66.5 tall, this goliath isn’t known for its height, but more so the size of the trunk (28 feet in circumference) and the spread from branch tip to branch tip (187 feet).
In 2008, we had the pleasure of witnessing this magnificent tree. What amazed us the most was how long some of the branches were (some over 80 feet long)! So long that several branches were propped up with posts to keep them from breaking and others swooped down into and below the ground and then back up into midair. Amazing!
The Angel Oak has survived a number of hurricanes and floods over the years and was damaged during Hurricane Hugo in 1989, but has since recovered. With a life expectancy of around 900 years, let’s hope it continues to thrive.