baobab tree
Jade Small
Jade Small
January 8, 2024 ·  6 min read

21 Spectacular and unique trees and forests around the world

Nature is awesome, and these incredible unique trees prove it. Often, we take nature for granted. Especially when it comes to trees. Yet, trees have been celebrated and even worshiped since the dawn of time. Many unique trees have medicinal qualities, while others are just stunning to look at. One thing all trees have in common is their ability to help offset carbon emissions, which makes them even more special. Today we’d like to celebrate this amazing part of nature by showing you some of the most unique trees around the world.

Avenue of the Baobabs, Madagascar

Beautiful Baobab trees at sunset at the avenue of the baobabs in Madagascar
Credit: Shutterstock

Firstly, the otherworldly-looking baobab can be found in Madagascar. As shown above, these massive, ancient trees are some of Africa’s most unique. They can live for thousands of years and grow to reach almost 100 feet. 

Wisteria Tunnels, Japan

The great wisteria flower arch
Credit: Shutterstock

This beautiful and whimsical flowering vine looks like something out of a fairytale. From late April/early May, there is a festival to celebrate the Wisteria. The island of Kyushu hosts this festival, known as Fuji Matsuri and this is where the 330-foot-long tunnels of beautiful unique trees of wisteria grow. 

Rainbow eucalyptus, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, and the Philippines

Eucalyptus deglupta is a species of tall tree, commonly known as the rainbow eucalyptus, Mindanao gum, or rainbow gum that is native to the Philippines, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea.
Credit: Shutterstock

Native to the Philippines, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. These unique trees are called rainbow eucalyptus. Every time the bark peels off, it reveals new beautiful colors such as pink, bright green, orange, and purple.

Dragon’s Blood Trees, Socotra Island

Dragon tree - Dracaena cinnabari - Dragon's blood - endemic tree from Soqotra, Yemen
Credit: Shutterstock

These trees not only look incredible, but they also have an incredible name too. Known as Dragon’s blood trees, they grow on an Island called the Yemeni archipelago of Socotra in the Indian Ocean. The island was once part of the mainland, which is why it now has such diverse flora. Of the 825 different plant species found there, 37% can be found nowhere else on earth.

Bamboo Forests, Japan

Bamboo Forest in Japan, Arashiyama, Kyoto
Credit: Shutterstock

While bamboo is not technically a tree, it is actually grass. However, a forest of bamboo is a lot more tree-like than grass-like! Kyoto in Japan is known for its dense forests of bamboo. They can also be found in Hawaii and Maui.

Angel Oak, South Carolina

Angle Oak Tree in Johns Island, South Carolina.
Credit: Shutterstock

It’s estimated that this incredible unique tree is 300-400 years old. It’s an Angel Oak and can be found in South Carolina, in the Angel Oak Park on Johns Island.

Giant Sequoias, California

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/y61jkHG1swzTVLsB/?mibextid=K8Wfd2			220
Credit: Shutterstock

As a matter of fact, the largest (in volume) and most magnificent trees in the world can be found inside the Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks. One of these trees is called “General Sherman” and it is considered to be the world’s largest tree by trunk volume. Additionally, the park has over 8,000 sequoia trees which can each reach up to 3400 years in age.

Related: This Man Is Cloning Old-Growth Redwoods and Planting Them in Safe Places

Dark Hedges, Northern Ireland

The Dark Hedges Northern Ireland
Credit: Shutterstock

In Northern Ireland exists a magical tunnel of beech trees. It was planted in County Antrim back in the 18th century. Accordingly, these unique trees were even featured in the popular TV series ‘Game of Thrones’.

Dead Vlei trees, Namibia

Dead trees in Dead Vlei with full moon - Sossusvlei, Namib desert, "Elements of this image furnished by NASA
Credit: Shutterstock

As shown above, in the image, the Namibia desert is one of Africa’s most surreal and special places. Around 900 years ago in Sossusvlei, what is now a clay landscape was once the Tsauchab River floodplain. All the trees that once thrived here have died.

Also, many of the trees that remain standing are over 1000 years old. However, it’s now too dry for the Dead Vlei trees to decompose. So, they now eerily remain scorched black by the sun.

Cherry Blossoms, Japan

Beautiful pink cherry trees blooming extravagantly at the end of a wooden bridge in Park, Japan, Spring scenery of Japanese countryside with amazing sakura (cherry) blossoms
Credit: Shutterstock

Everyone adores cherry blossoms, and in Tokyo exist some of the most beautiful trees, especially within the ground of the Imperial Palace. Each year, the cherry blossoms bloom, and Japan hosts festivals in their honor.

Redwoods, California

Sunny Redwood Forest in Northern California, United States. Forestry Theme.
Credit: Shutterstock

Another Cali tree. The redwoods of Califonia are well known. As can be seen, these gorgeous trees are the tallest on the planet. Additionally, these magnificent unique trees can reach 367 feet tall with a base width of up to 22 feet.

Ta Prohm, Cambodia

Sunny Redwood Forest in Northern California, United States. Forestry Theme.
Credit: Shutterstock

In Camobia exists a temple known as Ta Prohm. Located in Siem Reap, the old stonework ruins are slowly becoming engulfed by ceiba and fig trees. Basically, the perfect example of nature taking back what is hers.

Read: Ancient tree tells chaotic tale of Earth’s magnetic field reversal

Great Basin Bristlecone Pines, California, Utah, Nevada

Bristlecone Pine,Pinus longaeva in the White Mountains, California. There at the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest is the oldest existing Lifeform on Earth. A over 5000 Years old Bristlcone Pine.
Credit: Shutterstock

These pines are extremely unique trees and only grow in Utah, Nevada, and California. Known as the Great Basin bristlecone, these surreal trees can grow in harsh climates. As a result, and thanks to their prolonged growth rate, they can stay insect and fungi-free. This means they can survive for a very long time; many of these unique trees are older than 5,000 years.

Blue jacaranda, South America

Jacaranda tree trunk with small flowers and the sky
Credit: Shutterstock

If you’ve ever been lucky enough to see these magnificent trees bloom, you’ll know just how breathtaking the blue jacaranda really is. They can be found in South America, where they are natively from. However, many other places in the world now, too, are lucky enough to see the blue-blossomed ornamental trees, including South Africa, Australia, Hawaii, Kenya, Zambia, and Tanzania. Despite this tree’s immense beauty, it is, in fact, an invasive species in places other than South America.

Ponderosa pines, Utah

Ponderosa pine bark in southern Utah
Credit: Shutterstock

Another special pine tree. This is one of the tallest in the American Southwest. The Ponderosa Pine can reach 200 feet tall. Found in a Canyon that has been named after them, they can be found in Utah’s Bryce Canyon National Park. The bark of this unique tree smells like butterscotch, so there is no way you’ll misidentify one if you get a whiff!

Banyan trees, India

Scenic view of jungle with Indian banyan
Credit: Shutterstock

These are native to India; this tree is stout, wide, and short. The reason for the unique and unusual trunk is that these trees are, in fact, many trees growing very closely together. Additionally, one of the oldest Banyan trees is called the Arbol del Tule and is somewhere between 1,433 and 1,600 years old. It is located in Oaxaca, Mexico.

Axel Erlandson Art Trees, California

Axel Erlandson Art Trees, California
Credit: ripleys

While not natural, tree shaping is an interesting hobby and this Swedish-American farmer was quite the expert. Some of Axel Erlandson’s trees from 1947 are still alive and can be seen at Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park in Gilroy, California.

Joshua Trees, American Southwest

Joshua Tree National Park at Sunset, USA
Credit: Shutterstock

This unique tree is actually not a tree, but what is known as an agave. Additionally, being a type of succulent, they retain water inside their stems. They hail from the South West of America.

Spider Trees, Pakistan

Spider Trees, Pakistan
Credit: Wired

In Pakistan, 5 years ago, spiders fled as waters rose during the 2010 floods. Accordingly, this resulted in the trees being covered by cocoons of spider webs.

Buttress Roots

Amazon rainforest understory, rainforest tree with buttress roots
Credit: Shutterstock

Many trees create these unique-looking roots, known as “buttress roots.”. Most commonly seen inside rainforests, they are considered part of the trunk of the tree and help keep it standing upright.

Japanese Maples

Japanese Maple Tree in Autumn with vivid colors in Portland Garden
Credit: Shutterstock

Also, more beautiful unique trees from Japan! Finally, the Japanese maples are some of the most beautiful and vibrantly colored trees in the world. Native to Japan, Korea, China, Mongolia, and Russia, these special trees have existed since the 1800s. Every Japanese maple tree is unique thanks to its various leaf formations, colors, and overall tree shape. Over 1,000 varieties of this tree exist.

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