Asheville Botanical Gardens Moon Tree

Asheville, North Carolina

This sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) was planted as a 3 foot tall seedling at the Botanical Gardens at Asheville in North Carolina in a ceremony on Arbor Day, March 19, 1976. Mrs. James E. Holshouser, the North Carolina governor's wife, gave a dedication speech. The ceremony was attended by about fifty people, including the Chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Asheville, Dr. William Highsmith, Asheville Vice Mayor Bill B. Horton, NASA astronaut Col. Henry W. Hartsfield Jr., U. S. Forest Service associate chief Rexford Resler and Ralph C. Winkworth, chief forester of North Carolina.

It appears the original may have been taken to a greenhouse and a different sycamore planted in its place at the ceremony, later replaced with the real Moon Tree. The picture at the top left was taken in May, 2008, and the tree pictures at top right and at the bottom were taken in June, 2023.

The Botanical Gardens at Asheville are located at 151 W.T. Weaver Blvd. in Asheville, North Carolina. The tree is on the north side of Sycamore Meadow (see map), off the trail that parallels Reed Creek.

Coordinates of the tree are approximately 35° 36.755' N, 82° 33.961' W.

The plaque reads:

Sycamore
Platanus occidentalis L.
This sycamore was planted from a seed
which traveled on the January 31, 1971
Apollo 14 flight to the Moon.
Command pilot Stuart Roosa is a former
forest service smoke jumper.
Commemorating the nation's bi-centennial
and forestry's centennial.
1976

Two top left photographs courtesy Becky Priddy
Top right and lower photographs courtesy Sherry Banner
Map credit Botanical Gardens at Asheville

A 'Moon Tree' Grows In Asheville

Botanical Gardens at Asheville
Along the Way: The Asheville Moon Tree - Pennsylvania Rambler (28 August 2018)

History of the Sycamore Moon Trees
Moon Tree Home Page

NASA Official: Dave Williams, david.r.williams@nasa.gov
Last Updated: 24 May 2024, DRW