Trees have such a significant role on this earth that is no wonder they are celebrated and revered by most cultures. Because of this, different types of trees have links to different characteristics and qualities.
Listed below are some of the most popular and common trees with their spiritual or cultural meaning.
If you have any knowledge on trees and their meanings and would like to share these with us, please contact us.
Acacia (Wattle) - Sensitivity and Protection
Alder - Release The nitrogen-fixing nodules on the Alder's roots improve soil fertility and so make this tree ideal for reclaiming degraded soils and industrial wastelands such as slag heaps.
Almond – Purity and Perfection
Apple - Health and Fertility In the 19th century in Germany, the first bathwater used by a newborn baby was poured over the roots of an apple tree to ensure that the child would have red checks. And if it was a girl, large breasts too!
Ash - Protection In British folklore, the Ash was credited with a range of protective and healing properties, most frequently related to child health. Newborn babies were popularly given a teaspoon of Ash sap.
Aspen The Aspen tree has a unique appearance of shimmering or quivering in the wind. They also make a distinctive rustling, whispering sound which in many cultures and religions is associated with the voice of spirit, and in the boughs and leaves of the aspen the wind finds a distinctive voice to inspire those who would listen with patience and sensitivity.
Avocado - Fertility Avocados target the health and function of the womb and cervix of the female - they look just like these organs. Today's research shows that when a woman eats 1 avocado a week, it balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight and prevents cervical cancers. And how profound is this? .... it takes exactly 9 months to grow an Avocado from blossom to ripened fruit.
Banyan – The World Tree A sacred tree to India, China and Southeast Asia
Baobab – The Tree of Life A deciduous tree native to Africa, the enormous trunks can hold thousands of litres of water becoming the life source for many tribes. Hence the meaning – “Tree of Life”.
Bay/Laurel – Earth’s Calling and Glory
Fragrant leaves used in cooking and beauty products.
Beech - Understanding, Sustenance and Preservation A slow growing tree that also comes in a beautiful copper tone as shown in the picture.
Birch -Renewal As Birch is one of the first trees to come into leaf, it would be an obvious choice as representation of the emergence of Spring. Traditionally, babies' cradles were made of Birch wood, drawing on the earlier symbolism of new beginnings.
Camilla – Excellence It's no wonder the Camilla is connected with excellence. It's perfect blooms in shades of white, pink or red are enhanced by the glossy green foliage.
Cedar - Wisdom and Strength
Cherry - Beauty and Purity Emerging evidence links cherries to many important health benefits – from helping to ease the pain of arthritis and gout, to reducing risk factors for heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers. Cherries also contain melatonin, which has been found to help regulate the body’s natural sleep patterns, aid with jet lag, prevent memory loss and delay the ageing process.
Citrus - Energy, Fairness and Justice Lemons, grapefruits, oranges, and other citrus fruits look just like the mammary glands of the female and actually assist the health of the breasts.
Cypress - Heaven’s Calling
Elder - Healing and Abundance As everyone knows (or ought to know), the Faery Folk love music and merrymaking, and best of all they like the music from instruments made of Elder wood. Wood from the Elder tree lends itself well to the making of whistles, pipes, chanters and other musical instruments. The most auspicious time to encounter faeries was under an Elder bush on Midsummer's Eve, when the Faery King and Queen and their train could be seen passing.
Elm- Communication and Relationship People looked to the Elm tree for medicinal cures. The inner bark was especially efficacious when chewed or boiled into a liquor to treat colds and sore throats, while the boiled bark was also used to treat burns.
Eucalyptus - Restoring Balance and Increasing Vitality
Fig - Fertility and Good Fortune Figs are full of seeds and hang in twos when they grow. Figs increase the mobility of male sperm and increase the numbers of sperm as well to help overcome male sterility.
Ginkgo - Life Force
Hawthorne - Purification Hawthorn is at its most prominent in the landscape when it blossoms during the month of May, and probably the most popular of its many vernacular names is the May-tree. As such, it is the only British plant which is named after the month in which it blooms.
Hazel - Playfulness and Enchantment
Hazel has long been a favourite wood from which to make staffs, whether for ritual Druidic use, for medieval self defence, as staffs favoured by pilgrims, or to make shepherds crooks and everyday walking sticks. In the case of the latter two, the pliancy of the Hazel's wood was used to bend the stems into the required shape, though it was also customary to bend the Hazel shoots when still on the tree to 'grow' the bend into a crook or walking stick.
Hibiscus - Delicate Beauty
Holly – Truth
Evergreen with red berries iconic of Christmas.
Hornbeam – Guardianship
Horse Chestnut – Patience
Juniper The Romans used the Juniper berries for purification and stomach ailments, while the famous medieval herbalist Culpepper recommended them for a wide variety of conditions including the treatment of flatulence, for which Juniper oil is still used today. Chemicals in the berries also stimulate contraction of the uterine muscles and could be administered during labour.
Kauri – Tane Mahuta, Lord of the Forest. A Sacred Relationship.
Larch – Going Beyond the Limits Tall conifer with spreading branches
Linden – Healing and Peace Large deciduous trees with fine serrated lime leaves and creamy yellow flowers that are a great source of nectar to bees
Magnolia – Dignity Large evergreen tree with dark glossy leaves and huge heavily scented cream flowers
Maple – Expansion
Monkey Puzzle – Care
Myrrh – Devotion and Mediation
Myrtle – Unity
Oak - Bravery and Power The Major Oak in Sherwood Forest is purported to be the tree where Robin Hood and his Merry Men hatched their plots, and is now a popular tourist attraction.
Olive -Peace Olives assist the health and function of the ovaries
Palm – Trust
Pear - Good Health, Fortune and Comfort A long lived large tree that comes from the rose family. White blossoms in spring and wonderful fruit in Autumn.
Pine – Vitality
Plane - Balance
Pomegranate – Fruit of Life
Poplar – Protection and Courage
Quince - Fertility and Love From the rose family the common quince is native to Iran and Turkestan. Reaching six metres high with a fragrant white to pale pink flower with golden yellow fruit.
Rose – Love
Rose White - I am Worthy of You, Purity
Rose Red - Pure and Lovely
Rose Pink – Charming and Beauty
Rose Yellow – Friendship
Rosemary – Remembrance
Spruce/Fir - Connections with all Life Part of the Pine family, these large evergreen conifers are symbolic with Christmas
Sweet Chestnut – Nourishment and Incarnation
Sycamore Fig - Ultimate Blessing
Totara – Respect Totara symbolises respect from the Maori fable about the Totara tree being cut down by Rata to build a Waka (canoe) without asking the forest for permission. Over night the birds and creatures of the forest rebuilt the tree until Rata realised he had to ask for permission to cut down the tree and respect the forest.
Walnut – Intellect and Confidence
Walnuts are believed to be good for our mental health. A Walnut looks like a little brain, a left and right hemisphere, upper cerebrums and lower cerebellums. Even the wrinkles or folds are on the nut just like the neo-cortex. We now know that Walnuts help develop over 3 dozen neuro-transmitters for brain function.
Willow - Freedom and Harmony Willow's ability to quickly regrow a new tree by merely pushing a healthy branch cutting into the soil (even upside down!), has come to symbolise renewal, growth, vitality and immortality in other parts of the world such as China.