How deep can tree roots grow?
The deepest known root belongs to a South African fig tree and reaches over 400 feet underground.
The answer
Most tree roots grow within the top three feet of soil where nutrients and oxygen are concentrated, spreading laterally far beyond the canopy. However, in search of water, some roots penetrate extraordinary depths. A wild fig tree near South Africa's Echo Caves was found to have roots reaching 400 feet (122 meters) below the surface, the deepest documented root system. Mesquite trees in deserts commonly send taproots down 80 feet or more. Deep root systems serve as biological pumps, drawing water from deep aquifers and redistributing it through a process called hydraulic lift, which benefits neighboring shallow-rooted plants and the entire ecosystem.
Source: Oecologia
- roots
- trees
- deep root systems
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