Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The White House has announced that one of the several southern magnolia trees near the South Portico of the White House, commonly known as the “Andrew Jackson Commemorative – Southern Magnolia,” was removed from the White House grounds on Monday due to serious safety concerns cited in an official report. A new sapling, which is a direct descendant of the “Jackson Magnolia,” was planted in its place on Tuesday.

“After expert analysis and careful coordination between a board-certified master arborist, National Park Service, the White House grounds superintendent, the White House Executive Residence and its Office of the Curator, the offices of the president and the first lady, and United States Secret Service, the White House has made the careful decision to remove the Jackson Magnolia to ensure the safety of staff, visitors and the grounds themselves,” said a White House spokesperson. “Remnants of the old tree will be preserved by the Office of the Curator and honored by the White House, and this new tree will continue the heritage of the ‘Jackson Magnolia’ for generations to come.”

The collaborative decision regarding the “Jackson Magnolia” follows a comprehensive assessment by the American Society of Consulting Arborists, which concluded the tree has “surpassed the time of serving as an aesthetic and historic landmark due to the potential harm it may cause because of the risk of structural failure.” The report also recommended, “To eliminate the risk of personal injury and/or property damage, this tree should be removed as soon as can be scheduled.”

The National Park Service provided the following in concurrence with the report: “Despite ongoing preservation efforts, the ‘Jackson Magnolia’ tree has reached the end of its lifespan and must be removed due to safety concerns. The average lifespan of a southern magnolia is 100 years. A new magnolia sapling from the original tree will continue the tradition of honoring this tree’s history while investing in the future. Together with the Executive Residence staff, the National Park Service remains committed to caring for the White House landscape and grounds, ensuring its legacy endures for this and future generations.”