Lowell Elementary School Moon Tree
Boise, Idaho
This loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) was planted in 1977 at the Lowell Elementary School
in Boise, Idaho. Governor John Evan's son was attending the school at that time.
The picture above at left shows the tree in 2018, at right in 2023.
The center picture shows a plaque in front of the tree.
The Lowell Elementary School website has the following:
"In 1977, a special pine tree was planted on the playground. The tree was
grown from seeds that U.S. astronauts had taken to the moon and was,
therefore, named the "Moon Tree." There were only three such trees
planted in the entire state of Idaho. Lowell School received one of
these trees because Governor John Evans had a son attending Lowell at
that time."
The pictures above left and center were taken in 2022, the one to the right in 2023.
The tree appeared to be diseased in 2014, possibly due to an infestation of insects.
The lower branches were dying and sap was oozing from the trunk. Some of the
damage can be seen in the pictures below. The tree
appears to be healthier, and seems to be recovering.
There was a local effort to save the tree, you can find out more about it
here.
Photographs at top left and center courtesy Beth Gordon
Photograph at top right courtesy Nancy Rogers
Photograph at middle left and center courtesy Andy Heidelberg
Photograph at middle right courtesy Chad Chigbrow
Photographs at bottom courtesy Eric Geiger
Lowell School History Page
Efforts underway to save Boise's moon tree - KTVB-7 TV, 29 September 2015
Revisiting the Moon Tree - awkward botany, 24 June 2020
Idaho State Capitol Douglas Fir Moon Tree
University of Idaho Sycamore Moon Tree
History of the Loblolly Pine Moon Trees
Moon Tree Home Page
Author/Curator:
Dr. David R. Williams, dave.williams@nasa.gov
NSSDCA, Mail Code 690.1
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, MD 20771
+1-301-286-1258
NASA Official: Dave Williams, david.r.williams@nasa.gov
Last Updated: 1 March 2024, DRW