Seven-Year-Old Began Quest for City's Tallest Tree
Kellan Phillickan has launched a project to find a new record-holder after Stern Grove's tree was removed.
Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in Botany
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After discovering that the 218-foot Tasmanian blue gum in Stern Grove was removed following the 2021 flood, 7-year-old Kellan Phillickan has started a citywide search for San Francisco's new tallest tree. The project, which began at summer camp, aims to document the city's remaining natural giants.
Why it matters
The family hopes this effort will help residents better appreciate San Francisco's natural treasures. The search currently relies on manual measurements while the group looks to upgrade their tools.
The former tallest tree stood at 218 feet before its removal following the 2021 Stern Grove flood. Kellan Phillickan, who is 7, recently measured his first candidate at 44 feet while searching for the new record-holder.
The players
Kellan Phillickan
A 7-year-old resident who initiated the project to identify the tallest tree in the city.
The details
Using a stick and a long tape measure, the family is methodically crisscrossing the city to identify potential new record-holders. They have launched a GoFundMe campaign to purchase more precise measuring equipment for future tallies. The effort began after Phillickan started learning about tree measurement at summer camp a few months ago.
Timeline
2021: A water main break flooded Stern Grove.
A few months ago: Kellan Phillickan began tree measurement activities at summer camp.
Across the Bay
The search for a new champion tree directly addresses the loss of natural landmarks following the 2021 Stern Grove water main break. This effort follows the precedent set by the city's previous records for tallest species.
Residents can watch for the family as they survey trees in their local neighborhoods across San Francisco. The project aims to eventually identify a new record-holder that the public can visit.
The takeaway
The search highlights how quickly natural landmarks can change due to local infrastructure incidents like the 2021 flood. Watch for updates on the project as the family works to secure professional measuring gear.
Further reading
Learn more about the city's natural environment in the Botany section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by NBC Bay Area.
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