Child Has Launched Search for City’s Tallest Tree

Seven-year-old Kellan Phillickan is on a quest to locate the tallest tree in San Francisco.

Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in Botany

Bold vector editorial illustration of a towering eucalyptus trunk disappearing into coastal fog, highlighting the scale of San Francisco urban trees. — Seven-year-old Kellan Phillickan has begun a search for San Francisco's tallest tree to celebrate the city's natural urban heritage. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Should residents take an active role in documenting or maintaining local nature in their cities?

Seven-year-old Kellan Phillickan has initiated a search to identify San Francisco's tallest tree. The project began after he learned that the city's previous record-holder, a 218-foot Tasmanian blue gum in Stern Grove, was removed following a 2021 flood.

Why it matters

The family hopes this effort will help residents better appreciate local natural treasures. By searching across the city, they aim to document the current champion of San Francisco's urban forest.

Kellan Phillickan uses a stick and a long tape measure to assess tree height. He recently measured his first candidate, which reached a height of 44 feet.

The players

Kellan Phillickan

A seven-year-old boy who has dedicated his time to identifying the tallest tree in San Francisco.

The details

The search process involves the family crisscrossing San Francisco to identify potential candidates. To improve their accuracy, they have launched a GoFundMe campaign to purchase precise professional measuring equipment.

A water main break caused a flood in Stern Grove in 2021.
Kellan Phillickan began measuring trees while at summer camp a few months ago.

The Big Picture

This project attempts to catalog the city's largest specimens using a process that follows the informal documentation patterns set by the American Forests Champion Trees national register. By crowdsourcing this search, the effort shifts botanical data collection from institutional surveys to amateur enthusiasts.

Readers may gain a deeper understanding of local parks and the impact of environmental events like the 2021 Stern Grove flood on the city's canopy. The search highlights the importance of identifying and protecting significant mature trees within the urban landscape.

The takeaway

Engaging children in local environmental projects can foster a long-term appreciation for urban nature and conservation. Simply measuring trees with household tools can provide a hands-on introduction to geometry and biology for young learners.