16 Strange Trees Around the World |Weird and Unique Trees

Trees are a natural wonder and a gift for the world. Because they provide oxygen, food, shelter, and ecology, they are vital for the survival of all living organisms on the planet. There are over 60,000 tree species worldwide, each with a distinct role. Today we are going to see some strange trees around the world.

Here are a few of them that will make your heart swell. You can find these trees in different places or continents on earth. Some have unusual heights, while others have an odd width. Some are strange-looking and others are beautiful outside the box.

So these are just a few of the trees we chose from the many. We hope you will enjoy reading as much about them as I did writing.

1. Baobab tree, South Africa: Strange Trees

Location: South Africa 

You can find these towering, pillar-like trees in the arid regions of Madagascar and Australia. You will think that Baobabs trees look lifeless from afar with their giant pillars, but they are one of the most resilient faunas found in arid areas.

Baobabs have no leaves for nine months and only bloom for three months. They have white flowers that bloom at night and the leaves are visible on their tips. Baobabs also produce fruits having egg-shaped and these fruits are one-foot-long. Locals believe the Baobabs tree fruit is a superfood because it is high in calcium, magnesium, and potassium.

Baobabs can also be called “The tree that gives life” because they store water in their trunks and branches. They are porous and act like sponges. They are able to store more water than any other tree. A healthy baobab can store up to 120,000 liters of water in its trunk. Amazing, isn’t it!

Every tree has its benefits, but the baobab is unique. The bark can be pounded to create ropes, mats and baskets, paper, cloth, strings for musical instruments, and waterproof hats. Baobabs can also be used to treat various diseases such as asthma, bladder and kidney problems, and insect bites.

2. Dragon Tree, Canary Island: Unique Trees

Age range: 650 to 1000 years

Scientific name: Dracaena draco

Family: Asparagaceae

Its appearance is what is most famous about the dragon tree. Its structure is similar to an umbrella. This tree’s fruit was once the food for the extinct flightless bird. They used to eat the fruits and spread the seeds through elimination. Many believe that the decline in dragon tree numbers is directly linked to the extinction.

3. The tree of life, Bahrain: Rare Trees

It is still a mystery why this tree survives in the desert of Bahrain. The tree has survived the desert climate for nearly 400 years without any water. It is located on a hill in the Arabian Desert, just two kilometers from Jebel Dukhan (the highest point in Bahrain).

The tree’s survival has been difficult because of the lack of rain in Bahrain. According to the roots, they are 50m deep. This means that it is possible for them to reach deep water sources if any. Read more in this fascinating article about the Tree of life in Bahrain.

4. Rainbow eucalyptus, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, and the Philippines: Unique Trees

Eucalyptus Deglupta, a tall tree species, is commonly known as Mindanao gum or Rainbow eucalyptus. It is native to the Philippines and Papua New Guinea.

Why is the rainbow eucalyptus tree colorful?

Because the tree doesn’t shed all at once, colorful striations were created. Over time, the layers are slowly falling off while exposed areas begin to age. This creates a stunning visual with the rainbow eucalyptus appearing like something out of Alice in Wonderland.

5. Silk Cotton Tree, Cambodia

One of the strangest-looking trees in the world is the silk-cotton tree from the Seam Ream Province in Cambodia. This tree’s trunk extends upward in the direction that the sky is facing and forms a canopy around the temple. However, its roots remain coiled to the ground.

The area where these trees were found has been untouched for hundreds upon hundreds of years. How do they grow?

6.Traveller’s tree or traveller’s palm: Strange Trees

This tree is truly beautiful and resembles a large fan of leaves or a peacock spread out with its feathers. They can be found in Madagascar, and they are the only member within the genus.

So, why is this name? There is a reason. The tree stores water at its base and has been used for drinking in emergency situations for centuries.

Each leaf is four to five meters long and resembles the banana plant. Each leaf base has a cup shape and can hold about one liter of rainwater. The tree produces white flower clusters that contain light blue seeds.

7. Pine Tree, Poland

The pine trees in the Crooked Forest of Poland are crookedly weird in shape. The pine tree is J-shaped. There are two stories revolving around the J-shape tree. However, none of them has proof. One is that they are bent by heavy snowstorms. The other is that farmers intentionally bent branches of pine trees to make furniture-quality timber wood.

The reason the tree is bent remains unknown. The forest contains approximately 400 bent trees.

8. Banyan Tree, India: Unique Trees

Banyan tree is a terrifying tree with a look that resembles snakes hanging from its branches. But there is a remarkable fact about it: It is a sacred and holy tree in India.

It was first discovered in the 19th century. There are also banyan trees that have been around for over 1000 years. The Banyan tree’s leaves are believed to be the place where Lord Krishna rested. Maharashtra’s married women observe Vat Savitri Vrat which is a fast in which they worship the Banyan tree and tie a string around it. This tree is also India’s national tree.

9. Buttress roots tree: Weird Trees

These trees look amazing in movies and pictures. They have roots that grow and spread as far underground as they do on the ground. These trees look amazing, but they also seem straight out of a sci-fi thriller film. What makes trees grow their roots on the ground or buttressed?

Researchers found that trees will not grow deep enough in the ground if the soil is poor. This causes them to bulk up their roots and then find nutrients above the ground. Trees also benefit from the roots, which prevent them from falling.

10.Sandbox Weird Trees, South America’s Amazonian forest 

The sandbox is the most dangerous and creepy tree. Its trunk is the most dangerous, with its thorny cone-shaped spikes. It can be found in South America’s Amazonian forest.

Its seed-dispersing mechanism is the most frightening thing about this tree. The seeds form in the shape of a small pumpkin and then it becomes hardened and matures. They become a ticking bomb when they reach maturity. The seed will explode at speeds of 150 miles an hour, and reach a distance of 60 feet. It is extremely dangerous to remain within the radius of the explosion. Another thing! They can also be poisonous.

11. General Sherman, Weird Trees in United States: Weird Trees

General Sherman can be found in Sequoia National Park, the United States. It is well-known for its height and age. This tree is the largest single-stem tree on earth. It can reach a height of approximately 275 feet.

Its circumference is approximately 102 feet near the ground. It is the largest living tree.

Also Read: 31 Best Places to Visit in North America

12. Boojum trees: Strange Trees

We began to research the Boojum tree and discovered that boojum is an extremely rare and impressive tree/succulent.

Boojum is a native of Sonoran Desert, California, and Sonora Mexico. It can reach up to 15 meters in height. Boojum is not able to produce any leaves during the dry season. However, when it rains it stores water in its trunk, and it sprouts tiny yellow flowers on its spiny branches.

13. Bottle tree

This cute little tree can be found in South-western Angola, and neighboring North-West Namibia in southern Africa. Their swollen trunks make them look like a bottle, which is why they are named Bottle tree.

This is like a Baobab tree, it also stores water in its trunk. However, unlike baobabs, which can satiate the thirsts of animals such as elephants, bottle tree only stores water for themselves.

Do not be deceived by their cute looks. They are deadly and poisonous. The poison it produces is believed to be so deadly that hunters and locals use it to poison their hunting arrows.

14. Bamboo forests, Japan: Strange Trees

Bamboo is a plant that technically doesn’t belong to a tree, it’s actually a grass. However, when you walk through dense bamboo forests, you can’t tell the difference.

The most well-known Sagano Bamboo Forest is in Kyoto, Japan. However, you can also find them in Hawaii, Maui, and other places.

15. Dark Hedges, Northern Ireland: Weird Trees

The tunnel of beech trees, located in County Antrim in Northern Ireland, was created in 1898 to impress visitors to Gracehill House, a Georgian mansion.

The Dark Hedges is famous for their appearance in Game of Thrones. They play the role of the Kingsroad. This road connects Castle Black in the North with King’s Landing and King’s Landing in the South.

16. Cherry blossoms, Japan

Cherry blossoms are a sign of spring, from Bonn in Germany to Tokyo’s Imperial Palace, to DC’s Tidal Basin. Japan’s cherry blossom season is a huge event. There are blossom-themed festivals in many parks throughout the country. The National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC attracts people from all walks of the country each spring.