Love is in the air at Texas A&M, and it’s been growing strong for more than a century. Standing at the heart of Texas A&M’s main campus as the largest tree on the 5,200-acre grounds, the iconic Century Tree oak is among the earliest planted on Aggie soil and remains a staple of Aggie traditions. But how long has the tree really been alive, and what makes it so significant? We’re here to set the record straight! Here are 10 fun facts about Texas A&M’s beloved Century Tree.
❤️ The Century Tree was planted in 1891, making it only 15 years younger than Texas A&M University itself, which means this monument turns 135 this year!
❤️ The tree is a Large Southern Live Oak. This plant species is known for its durability to intense weather conditions, contributing to the Century Tree’s resilience.
❤️ Before being named the Century Tree in 1990 by the Aggieland yearbook staff, Aggies and community members commonly referred to it as the Century Oak.
❤️ Over the decades, Aggies have dubbed the landmark a “sweetheart tree” due to its popularity as an engagement location.
❤️ An Aggie myth claims that couples who walk under the tree together will last forever, while those who walk under it alone will remain single for the rest of their lives. Do you believe in this superstition?
❤️ A specific part of the tree, known as the “Friendship Branch,” holds its own legend. It’s believed that walking under the branch with someone else leads to an unbreakable, lifelong friendship.
❤️ In 2011, the Texas Forest Service inducted the tree into the “Famous Trees of Texas” registry, recognizing its historical significance and importance to Aggies.
❤️ Andy Duffie ’78 shared his love of Texas A&M through his founding of the Aggie Century Tree Project in 2008. He learned how to grow his own seedlings from the tree’s acorns, selling the first batch in 2010.
❤️ After Duffie passed in 2020, a new group took on the project in his honor. The Aggie Century Tree continues to grow and sell seedlings to this day.
❤️ Staying true to the Aggie Core Values, this nonprofit uses the funds raised from every purchase of the Century Tree’s seedlings to help fund scholarships for Aggie students.
How many of these facts did you know? Did you learn something new?
Check out our Instagram to hear the myths students have shared and comment your own memories with the Century Tree!
