Nature is full of wonder and beauty. The more time you spend outdoors, the greater your appreciation is for the natural world. Trees are some of the most fascinating phenomena, and these rare trees around the world prove it. How many of these trees do you recognize?
1. Lacebark Pine
Pinus bungeana
Forbidden City, Beijing, China. Lacebark pine
This conifer grows naturally in central and northern China. It has exfoliating bark that peels back to reveal a patchwork of colors including white, olive, light purple and silver.
2. Banyan Tree
Banyan tree in Waikiki, Honolulu City, Oahu Island, Hawaii, USA. The Banyan tree features a long root roots from the broadly spread side branches.
This unique tree sends shoots down from its branches to form new trunks, causing it to become very expansive. In fact, a single specimen can resemble a small forest.
3. Coast Redwood
Sequoia sempervirens
Redwood Forest, California.
This redwood holds the title of World’s Tallest Tree. Often growing to 300′ tall (or more), it is an impressive sight.
4. Lancewood
Pseudopanax crassifolius
Lancewood Tree
Somewhat of a chameleon, this tree starts out small with long, intimidating leaves shooting out right from the slender trunk. After 15–20 years, the tree starts to change to its adult form, with branches and much shorter leaves.
See more trees around the world
5. Wollemi Pine
Wollemia nobilis
The Wollemi Pine
This tree was thought to be extinct until 1994, when a park ranger discovered them growing in a national park in Australia. It is one of the world’s oldest and rarest trees. The pine’s bark is very unusual, resembling bubbling chocolate.
6. Montezuma Baldcypress
Taxodium mucronatum Ten.
Montezuma Baldcypress -2000 years old cypress in Mexico. This is the largest of the species.
Growing in the more central parts of Mexico, this tree is related to the baldcypress and pond cypress. The largest of the species is the Tule Tree, found on the grounds of a church in Santa María del Tule and measuring more than 119′ around.
7. Sapodilla Tree
Manilkara zapota
Closeup of young sapodilla fruit on tree.
The sapodilla tree grows in the rain forest on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. Its sap is collected and boiled down into chicle, which was originally used to make chewing gum.
8. Live Oak
Quercus virginiana
Live Oak with Spanish Moss.
The live oak has been called one of the most impressive North American trees. Its magnificent branching is only enhanced by the Spanish moss that is often draped over its limbs.
Live Oak: Heart of the Southern Landscape
9. Cannonball Tree
Couroupita guianensis
Closeup of cannonball tree trunk with large spherical ball fruit in Darwin, Australia.
This tropical tree is found in the Amazon rain forest. It produces fruit that resembles rusty cannonballs directly on the trunk.
10. Rainbow Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus deglupta
Giant Rainbow Eucalyptus Trees.
Found growing throughout the South Pacific, this eucalyptus is planted as a street tree and shade tree in Hawaii. Its unique, multicolored trunk gives the tree a magical look.
11. Monkey Puzzle Tree
Araucaria araucana
Monkey Puzzle Tree
This evergreen certainly has a unique look and is often grown as an ornamental tree. The species was declared a national monument in 1976 to help protect it from logging.
12. Bottle Tree (Boab)
Adansonia gregorii
Sunset in the famous Avenida de Baobab near Morondava in Madagascar.
This unique mountainous desert dweller has very poisonous sap. In fact, it was once used by bushmen as arrow poison.
13. Siberian Fir
Abies sibirica
Siberian Fir
The national tree of Russia, this fir is at home in the cold boreal forests of Siberia. It is very shade-tolerant and hardy, surviving temperatures as low as -50° C.
