At first glance, it sounds like something lifted straight out of fantasy literature. A tree that can walk. Not metaphorically, not poetically, but physically relocating itself across the forest floor in search of sunlight. In the rainforests of Ecuador, one species of palm has earned exactly that reputation.

Known as Socratea exorrhiza, this palm is often called the “walking tree,” and for decades it has fascinated tourists, researchers, and storytellers alike. According to popular accounts, the tree slowly moves through the rainforest by growing new roots in one direction while allowing older roots to die off, effectively shifting its position over time. Some claims suggest it can travel up to 20 meters per year.

But does this tree truly walk, or is the story more illusion than biology?

The Legend of a Moving Tree

Local rainforest guides in Ecuador have long described Socratea exorrhiza as a living, mobile organism. The most common explanation is that the tree “walks” toward sunlight by extending new stilt-like roots toward brighter areas of the forest canopy while abandoning older roots on the shaded side.

Early anthropological work helped fuel this belief. In 1980, anthropologist John H. Bodley proposed that the palm’s unusual stilt roots might allow it to gradually shift away from its original point of germination. This idea became widely repeated in travel guides, documentaries, and online articles.

The palm’s appearance certainly reinforces the myth. Its roots emerge several feet above the ground, forming long, angled supports that resemble legs. As erosion exposes or kills some roots while new ones appear elsewhere, the tree can look as though it has stepped forward.

To the human eye, especially in a dynamic rainforest environment, it is easy to see how movement might be inferred.

What Science Actually Shows

Despite the compelling visuals, modern botanical research paints a more cautious picture.

Biologist Gerardo Avalos, director of the Center for Sustainable Development Studies in Costa Rica, conducted detailed field studies on Socratea exorrhiza and published his findings in 2005. His conclusion was clear: there is no scientific evidence that these palms physically relocate themselves across the forest floor (Live Science).

According to Avalos, while the trees do produce new roots and lose old ones, their trunk remains anchored in the same location. Root regeneration is a response to soil erosion and instability, not a mechanism for directional movement.

“My paper proves that the belief of the walking palm is just a myth,” Avalos told Live Science. He added that the idea of a palm tree actively tracking sunlight by moving is biologically implausible given what is known about plant physiology.

No time-lapse footage or long-term measurements have ever confirmed a net change in the tree’s position.

Why the Myth Persists

The confusion stems largely from the palm’s extraordinary root system. Unlike most trees, Socratea exorrhiza relies on stilt roots that begin higher up the trunk. As rainforest soil erodes, some roots may die and new ones form elsewhere, giving the illusion of motion.

In addition, rainforest environments change constantly. Fallen trees open gaps in the canopy, soil shifts after heavy rain, and light patterns evolve. A tree that survives decades in such conditions can appear adaptive in ways that feel almost intentional.

For tour guides, the story adds wonder and memorability. For visitors, it transforms an unusual palm into something magical. And once an idea captures the imagination, it spreads quickly.

Can Any Plants Actually Move?

While the walking palm itself likely does not travel, some plants do exhibit limited forms of movement. Certain cacti, like the creeping devil (Stenocereus eruca), can slowly spread across desert landscapes through growth and decay cycles (Smithsonian Magazine). However, even these examples involve growth-based relocation rather than deliberate motion.

Trees, by contrast, remain fundamentally rooted organisms.

A Lesson in Scientific Curiosity

The story of the walking palm highlights an important truth about science and storytelling. Nature often appears more mysterious than it truly is, and myths frequently arise where observation outpaces measurement.

Socratea exorrhiza may not walk, but it does not need to. Its unique architecture, resilience in unstable soils, and striking appearance already make it one of the rainforest’s most remarkable species.

Sometimes, understanding the reality behind a myth makes nature no less impressive—just more honest.

Sources:
(Live Science)
(Smithsonian Magazine)