In 1875 Moreton Bay Figs (Ficus Macrophylla) were brought to Southern California. They were shipped from Australia to San Pedro and were given away to anyone who came to the dock. Many were taken to Santa Monica where they were planted mistakenly as magnolias. Surprisingly enough, the trees which came from a much wetter native environment actually thrived in the Southern California climate. Some of them have grown to be 80 feet high. Today they can be found scattered throughout the Los Angeles Basin.

Inglewood's trees were planted by Daniel Freeman. They have grown into the largest trees in Inglewood and certainly the oldest clocking in at 127 years. In recognition of this, Inglewood passed the Tree Preservation Ordinance in 2012 to protect them.