American Tree Experts

Top 10 Species of Exotic Trees

Read on to discover the top 10 rare and exotic trees

There are over 60,000 known species of trees that exist in the world today. Despite climate change, deforestation, and forest fires, many trees have survived for thousands of years and still thrive today. In this article, we take a look at the top ten rare exotic trees.

Dragon Blood Tree

  • Dragon Blood Trees are only found on an island known as Socotra. Socotra is situated 200 miles off the coast of Yemen and is also known as the jewel of Arabia. This tree has existed for over a millennium and can not be found anywhere else on the planet.

It has an umbrella-like shape, with bare branches growing upwards and green leaves at their ends. It is called Dragon Blood because it grows in the remnants of a prehistoric forest known as Dragonsblood.

  • The bark and branches absorb humidity and then move it to its roots. This shows that the tree has adapted well to Socotra’s environmental conditions. However, the number of Dragon Blood Trees has rapidly declined due to climate change and deforestation.

If you plant this tree in your yard, you will never have to worry about hiring a professional tree pruning company, as this tree forms a unique umbrella shape.

Baobab Tree

  • The baobab tree is native to central-southern Africa and is instantly recognizable due to its long trunks and unique shapes. In addition, the baobab tree has efficiently adapted to the dry weather by absorbing enough water during the monsoon season.

Baobabs use their trunks as a sponge and store water which is then used during dry periods. Elephants are known to rip Boabab trunks in search of water.

  • In addition to Africa, the Baobab tree grows in Zimbabwe, Limpopo (South Africa), and Madagascar. At night, its flowers give off a sour milky scent that attracts bats.

Its flowers produce nectar which is a source of food for many birds. If you have a pollen allergy, then you should avoid this tree at all costs.

Ginkgo Tree

  • Ginkgo Tree is perhaps one of the unique trees in the world due to its medicinal properties. The oldest Ginkgo tree is 1400 years old and is located within the walls of a Buddhist temple in the Zhongnan Mountains of China.

The leaves of the Ginkgo tree change their color from green to bright yellow every fall. The fallen leaves around the tree present a spectacular sight for visitors. Therefore, it is also sometimes called the Maidenhair Tree.

  • Ginkgo Tree is a living fossil because it is one of the few trees that has existed since the time of dinosaurs.

Kauri Tree

  • exotic treesKauri Tree is known to be one of the strongest trees on Earth. They grow to about 50m in height and 16m in circumference. They are found in New Zealand and have been growing for the past 2200 years.

Kauri forests are known to be one of the most ancient forests on Earth. The oldest tree in this forest is known as Tane Mahuta, the Maori God for forests and birds.

Pando Tree

  • Pando Tree is also known as the trembling giant. Pando Trees grow as a collective colony of males. This colony is a single living organism with a unified roots system and identical genetic markers.

Pando is a word from Latin that means ‘I spread’. Pando trees are the oldest in the world, and their colony is made up of quaking aspen trees.

Silver Birch, Finland

  • The silver birch is mainly found in the Scandinavian region. This region is also referred to as the Nordic region, which includes Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland, as well as the Faroe Islands, Greenland, and Åland. Within this region, the majority population of Silver Birch trees is located in Finland.

It’s called silver birch because of its white peeling bark. This white color is an evolutionary trait that helps protect the plant against too much light. During the snow season, the tree with its white bark presents a genuinely mesmerizing view.

  • Some people in Finland even have this tree in their back yards. They often hire a professional tree pruning company to prune off their excess branches, thus enhancing their beauty.

Traveler’s Tree, Madagascar

  • About 90 million years ago, Madagascar separated from Africa and existed as a separate island with its own ecosystem. The separation of Madagascar allowed its plants and animals to evolve according to the new environmental conditions. As a result, much of its vegetation remains untouched, due to which there are many rare and exotic trees on this island.

One such exotic tree is the Traveler’s tree. It has massive foliage of fan-like leaves that is believed to orient itself consistently. The Traveler’s tree has a reputation that its leaves can also be used as a compass.

  • Some scientists consider the traveler’s tree to be a distant relative of the Bird of Paradise flower. The traveler’s tree has large turquoise blue seeds. Scientists believe that this tree co-evolved with the ruffed lemur. The ruffed lemur only has blue and green receptors in its eyes. The lemur eats the seeds and defecates them in a different part of the forest.

Areca Palm Tree, India

  • The Areca Palm tree is mainly found in India. It is a tall and slender tree species. It has a disc-like trunk having dark and light horizontal bands. The Areca Palm tree bears an orange fruit that contains large seeds.

These seeds are deeply linked to India’s paan culture. A paan is a small envelope of betel vine leaves containing areca nut, slaked lime chemical, and a mixture of spices and flavorings. Sometimes it also contains powdered tobacco.

  • Paan is consumed by chewing the envelope but not swallowing it. It is often used in social gatherings and an after-dinner mouth cleanser.

Yoshino Cherry, Japan

  • The Yoshino Cherry tree is native to Japan and is truly a fantastic sight because of its vibrant flowers. The flowers bloom before the foliage appears on the trees. As a result, millions of people flock to Japan during the hanami time, also known as Japan’s cherry blossom season.

The trees clad with pinkish white flowers are instantly recognizable due to their popularity. In the Japanese language, the feelings inspired by these flowers are known as mono no aware.

  • The locals regard the trees with reverence and are of great interest to foreign tourists. The tree branch with its beautiful flowers can be found all around Japan in the form of logos and designs printed on clothing, porcelain, and even tattoos. If you suffer from pollen allergy, then this is one tree you must avoid being exposed to.

Brazil Nut, Bolivia

  • Brazil Nut trees are found in great numbers in Bolivia. These are insanely tall trees with straight trunks. The trees bloom with large white flowers.

The seeds (nuts) are arranged within a hard shell-like casing resembling a cricket ball. Its casing is hard enough to withstand a hit at 60mph. Once the shell is cracked open, one can find the nuts positioned inside in a way similar to orange segments. These nuts are a source of food for the agoutis. Agoutis are local rodents that gnaw through the casing and spread the seeds.

  • Getting your hands on such an exotic tree for your yard might be challenging. But, if you correctly prune and maintain your trees, they are no less than exotic trees. We, at American Tree Experts Inc, offer a wide variety of services for your trees. So call us today at 973-774-6091 and get your quote ASAP!

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