The Savannah Tree Foundation holds a conservation easement on the Candler Oak, which is maintained through annual sponsorship donations from St. Joseph’s Candler Hospital.
The Candler Oak is a live oak tree, Quercus virginianus, and is thought to be one of the oldest living landmarks in our area, with a rich history that parallels the establishment of our city. This Live Oak stands just south of the corner of Drayton and Gaston Streets and is over 300 years old. In 2001, the Candler Oak was designated a Georgia Landmark and Historic Tree by the Georgia Urban Forest Council. In 2004 it was added to the National Register of Historic Trees.
During its lifetime, the Candler Oak has been a silent witness to the many changes in the area. In 1791, the Georgia State Legislature granted five acres of land surrounding the mighty oak to be used for a seaman’s hospital. The hospital was constructed in 1803 and was in use until 1818. In 1819, a new structure, the Savannah Poor House and Hospital, was built on the land and was in use until 1854, when it was converted to serve as the headquarters for the Medical College of Georgia.
Photo by Fran Dwight
During the Civil War, the hospital was used by the Confederacy until it was captured by General Sherman. Sherman used the hospital to treat his own soldiers and constructed a barricade around the tree to house wounded Confederate prisoners. In 1930, the site was returned to service as the Warren A. Candler Hospital, which operated until 1980. Huntingdon II, Ltd. purchased the building where community health care organizations continued to operate until 2000.
After years of stress, the Candler Oak was in serious decline with a life expectancy of less than 20 years. In 1982, a group of concerned citizens guided by dedication and vision formed the Savannah Tree Foundation in order to protect and preserve Savannah’s urban forest. The first preservation project of Savannah Tree Foundation was to preserve this historic tree. The group made history by securing the first conservation easement on a single tree in the nation. The 6,804 square foot easement was established in 1984 to protect the Candler Oak from loss to development.
Huntingdon II, Ltd. donated the easement to the Savannah Tree Foundation so that the tree could receive proper care in order to arrest its declining health. In 1985, asphalt from the parking lot was removed from the root area to revive the tree, and a comprehensive schedule of maintenance (including soil tests and examinations by ISA Certified Arborists) has been followed. The tree is watered, mulched and fertilized as needed. Under the watchful eye of the Savannah Tree Foundation and the ongoing patronage of St. Joseph’s Candler Hospital, the tree has rebounded and could continue to grace our city well into the 21st century.
Dimensions
| Diameter | 63 inches |
| Circumference | 16.85 feet |
| Height | 54 feet |
| Average crown spread | 110.25 feet |
A conservation easement is an infrastructure & land use planning tool which helps determine the future of a piece of physical property or natural resource. Careful planning using legal tools to establish a conservation easement can help determine the shape, scope and future of a piece of land – or a single tree— into perpetuity. The Savannah Tree Foundation can help you plan a conservation easement for property that will protect your trees into perpetuity – just contact us for more information!