Araucaria heterophylla
Santa Barbara’s skyline is punctuated with the upper spires of handsome trees commonly called “Norfolk Island Pine”. Because of their star-shaped top whorl of branches, they have another common name, “Star Pine”.
The most easily recognized one in town, “Santa Barbara’s Tree of Light”, stands majestically on the corner of Carrillo and Chapala Streets. It is remarkably healthy, given that it is almost 150 years old and about 120 feet tall – the height of a 12-story building!
Every December – for the last 97 years – members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local Union 413, have decorated this tree’s boughs with strings of lights and placed a shining star at the very top, making it truly a “Star Pine”.
In 1878, this iconic tree was planted by Dr. and Mrs. Robert Winchester in what was then their front yard. In 1928, the Community Arts Commission designated it as the City’s official Christmas Tree. In 1977, the City Council designated it an official City Landmark…