THE LEAFLET

Whether or not you watch it, you probably know that the new season of Game of Thrones has started. When reminiscing on scenes from last season, one character Bran’s adventures in a certain memorable white-bark tree in Winterfell came up. With that in mind, we took a look at some other memorable mystical trees in TV, movies, and books. Have any others to add?

Weirwoods from A Song of Ice and Fire/Game of Thrones

Throughout the North of Westeros, the land where Game of Thrones is set, there are wooded areas within castles set aside for worshiping and meditating referred to as godswoods. Godwoods are centered around a single heart tree, which is a weirwood tree with a face carved into the trunk. Weirwoods are deciduous tree with white bark with five-pointed, blood-red leaves and sap that tends to make the tree look like it’s “crying blood” as the sap leaks from the carved face’s eyes. Talk about hardcore.

TreeBeard and the Ents from the Lord of the Rings

Treebeard, also known as Fangorn, was the oldest of the Ents left in Middle-earth, an ancient tree-like being who is a “shepherd of trees”. He has a very tall and stiff-limbed appearance, with bark-like skin and leafy hair. They are among the oldest living things in Middle-earth, and are usually peaceful, but when they get fed up with evil ruler Saruman’s antics, they decide to march for one last fight.

Tree of Souls from Avatar

The Tree of Souls is a giant willow-like tree that is said to be the closest connection to Eywa, the guiding deity, on Pandora, the planet on which Avatar takes place. The tree is a point of extreme spiritual significance to the Na’vi, more so than any other point on Pandora. Believe it or not, the Tree of Souls has fiberous and bioluminescent ends that the people of Pandora use to connect to Eywa (sort of like a USB).

Grandmother Willow from Pocahontas

A talking and sentient tree, Grandmother Willow is a weeping willow that advises to Pocahontas. Although ancient and wise, she has her sassy and comical moments.

Whomping Willow from Harry Potter

While willows are typically seen as wise, ethereal plants in our world, that is not the case for those at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The Whomping Willow is a very valuable, very violent species of magical plant. Whomping Willows will attack anyone and anything that comes within range of its branches.

While these trees don’t exist IRL, check out some that you can grow yourself here in D.C.  — all are available through our Residential Planting programs!