The tree that holds the record for having the deepest roots is the Boscia albitrunca more commonly known as shepherds tree. It is a protected species native to South Africa. A measurement taken from a shepherd’s tree in Kalahari in 1974 measured in at 68 meters (223 feet)! You would never guess by looking a the tree that it was capable of such a penetrating root system.

The shepherds tree is capable of growing as high as 10 meters (33 feet) but that is considered exceptional. The average growth is much shorter.