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The Folklore of Trees: The fascinating stories behind nature's guardians
Did you know that the word ‘Druid' may derive from Celtic words meaning ‘wisdom of the oak tree’?
Did you know that yews are often planted near graveyards to keep the devil out?
Discover the fascinating folklore behind the forest’s most steadfast guardians.
Whether it’s the Major Oak, a 1,000-year-old tree where Robin Hood is thought to have sheltered, or the 2,800-year-old Baobabs in Madagascar, trees are tourist destinations, world heritage sites and much-beloved landmarks. They play a vital role in our imaginations and are inextricably woven into the story of humankind. It’s unsurprising, then, that an astonishingly rich body of myth, legend and superstition has grown up around them. This beautifully illustrated guide introduces us to thirty-five iconic trees and explores the stories that have been told about them. It is the perfect bedside companion for every lover of the natural - and supernatural - world.
Did you know that yews are often planted near graveyards to keep the devil out?
Discover the fascinating folklore behind the forest’s most steadfast guardians.
Whether it’s the Major Oak, a 1,000-year-old tree where Robin Hood is thought to have sheltered, or the 2,800-year-old Baobabs in Madagascar, trees are tourist destinations, world heritage sites and much-beloved landmarks. They play a vital role in our imaginations and are inextricably woven into the story of humankind. It’s unsurprising, then, that an astonishingly rich body of myth, legend and superstition has grown up around them. This beautifully illustrated guide introduces us to thirty-five iconic trees and explores the stories that have been told about them. It is the perfect bedside companion for every lover of the natural - and supernatural - world.
- GenresNatureNonfiction
160 pages, Hardcover
Published March 3, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 1, 2026
Really lovely, interesting book about the importance of various tree species
July 13, 2026
What a beautiful book - one I definitely want to own.
It makes total sense why cultures across the world have always assigned importance to trees. You’ll learn something new about trees you hadn’t even thought of before.
Anyway, this was such a quick and pleasant read. :)
It makes total sense why cultures across the world have always assigned importance to trees. You’ll learn something new about trees you hadn’t even thought of before.
Anyway, this was such a quick and pleasant read. :)
August 4, 2026
Excellent book. Combines a love of nature, stories, and history. Really enjoyed learning so many things. Just disappointed, as an American and Wisconsinite, that maple wasn’t included!
While we wage wars under olive branches…”
“The apple - or forbidden fruit - carries the baggage of original sin, lust, and death, but is also thought to represent love, knowledge, and immortality.”
“The term Druid likely derives from the Irish-Gaelic word for oak tree, ‘doire’.”
The Druidic Ogham alphabet is known as tree alphabet and many letters are represented as trees and read climbing up, identifiable by letter twigs.
Christmas trees, Yule logs, and holly wreaths all come from winter solstice festival Yule
“Trees can survive without us, but we cannot survive without trees.”
Alder wood is soft when dry, does not split easily, has anti-microbial properties, and was widely used for making pails for dairy equipment.
Silver birch is known as the tree of witches, because it traditionally provides the material for their brooms.
Many trees associated with fertility, courtship, and protection from evil spirits.
The frankincense sap trade led to the domestication of the camel. Book of the Dead said it’s the sweat of the gods, fallen to earth. Also associated with Phoenix, djinn. Gift to Jesus, to show he was son of God.
Cedar has been over forested throughout history.
Moana movie isn’t wrong, coconut palm is sacred to island people as life-giving.
St. Patrick, Hermes, and Circe had hazel wands.
A pair of hazelnuts carved with initials could be used to test compatibility on Halloween by roasting on a fire (slowly = trouble-free marriage, tumultuous = rocky marriage, jumping = infidelity, fierce blaze = gentleman’s passion)
Hazelnuts were the popcorn of Elizabethan England and their shells lined the Globe’s floor.
Hawthorn is the maypole tree. Bad to bring hawthorn into the home, invites death and illness (tree releases a chemical that is also released from decaying animals).
Paisley is a cypress tree design.
One of the oldest trees in existence is the Cypress of Abarkuh, 4,500 years old. Some say planted by Noah’s son Japheth, or by Zarathustra founder of Zoroastrianism.
Eucalyptus trees are gum trees! They’re sacred in Australia.
The fig leaf campaign was a Christian effort to cover statues’ genitals because nudity was shameful.
Yggdrasil is an ash tree.
Druids brought Holly into homes for mutual protection of man and fairy, but needed to be burned when wilting or bad crops. This was the origin of Twelfth Night tradition of removing Christmas decorations on January 6th.
Under a walnut tree is a popular fictional meeting place for witches and demons. Especially the tree in Benevento, Italy (once had a Temple of Isis). The nuts have more positive associations.
Laurel (bay) is associated high achievers in the military, sports, and arts. Poet laureate. Baccalaureate degree.
“Apple of discord” stems from giving the golden apple to the most beautiful goddess, which led to the Trojan War.
The silkworm is one of the only domesticated insects on the planet, and the mulberry is its bush (sericulture).
Olive = peace. Also thousands of years old.
The date palm has importance in several major religions (including Palm Sunday for Christians)
Norway spruce populates about half of the Black Forest.
The glass bauble replaced apples on the Norway spruce Christmas tree.
The bristlecone pine can stand for over 5,000 years.
Cherry tree is sacred in Japan and often has its own soul and personality in stories.
Salicylic acid in willow bark synthesizes into aspirin.
Sequoia trees were named after a Cherokee who created the first Cherokee writing system.
Yew trees are super poisonous.
Cacao tree is sacred to Aztec and Mayan cultures.
While we wage wars under olive branches…”
“The apple - or forbidden fruit - carries the baggage of original sin, lust, and death, but is also thought to represent love, knowledge, and immortality.”
“The term Druid likely derives from the Irish-Gaelic word for oak tree, ‘doire’.”
The Druidic Ogham alphabet is known as tree alphabet and many letters are represented as trees and read climbing up, identifiable by letter twigs.
Christmas trees, Yule logs, and holly wreaths all come from winter solstice festival Yule
“Trees can survive without us, but we cannot survive without trees.”
Alder wood is soft when dry, does not split easily, has anti-microbial properties, and was widely used for making pails for dairy equipment.
Silver birch is known as the tree of witches, because it traditionally provides the material for their brooms.
Many trees associated with fertility, courtship, and protection from evil spirits.
The frankincense sap trade led to the domestication of the camel. Book of the Dead said it’s the sweat of the gods, fallen to earth. Also associated with Phoenix, djinn. Gift to Jesus, to show he was son of God.
Cedar has been over forested throughout history.
Moana movie isn’t wrong, coconut palm is sacred to island people as life-giving.
St. Patrick, Hermes, and Circe had hazel wands.
A pair of hazelnuts carved with initials could be used to test compatibility on Halloween by roasting on a fire (slowly = trouble-free marriage, tumultuous = rocky marriage, jumping = infidelity, fierce blaze = gentleman’s passion)
Hazelnuts were the popcorn of Elizabethan England and their shells lined the Globe’s floor.
Hawthorn is the maypole tree. Bad to bring hawthorn into the home, invites death and illness (tree releases a chemical that is also released from decaying animals).
Paisley is a cypress tree design.
One of the oldest trees in existence is the Cypress of Abarkuh, 4,500 years old. Some say planted by Noah’s son Japheth, or by Zarathustra founder of Zoroastrianism.
Eucalyptus trees are gum trees! They’re sacred in Australia.
The fig leaf campaign was a Christian effort to cover statues’ genitals because nudity was shameful.
Yggdrasil is an ash tree.
Druids brought Holly into homes for mutual protection of man and fairy, but needed to be burned when wilting or bad crops. This was the origin of Twelfth Night tradition of removing Christmas decorations on January 6th.
Under a walnut tree is a popular fictional meeting place for witches and demons. Especially the tree in Benevento, Italy (once had a Temple of Isis). The nuts have more positive associations.
Laurel (bay) is associated high achievers in the military, sports, and arts. Poet laureate. Baccalaureate degree.
“Apple of discord” stems from giving the golden apple to the most beautiful goddess, which led to the Trojan War.
The silkworm is one of the only domesticated insects on the planet, and the mulberry is its bush (sericulture).
Olive = peace. Also thousands of years old.
The date palm has importance in several major religions (including Palm Sunday for Christians)
Norway spruce populates about half of the Black Forest.
The glass bauble replaced apples on the Norway spruce Christmas tree.
The bristlecone pine can stand for over 5,000 years.
Cherry tree is sacred in Japan and often has its own soul and personality in stories.
Salicylic acid in willow bark synthesizes into aspirin.
Sequoia trees were named after a Cherokee who created the first Cherokee writing system.
Yew trees are super poisonous.
Cacao tree is sacred to Aztec and Mayan cultures.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
⭐ Nonfiction | Folklore | Nature
Thank you to Leaping Hare Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Folklore of Trees: The Fascinating Stories Behind Nature’s Guardians explores the deep-rooted relationship between trees and human culture, weaving together mythology, religious symbolism, seasonal traditions, and country lore. As someone already familiar with many tree facts, and a fan of trees, I was curious to see whether this book would offer anything new. There was some new facts introduced.
The book traces how trees appear throughout our lives and histories, from Yule logs and holly wreaths at Christmas to the fig tree in the Garden of Eden.
One of the trees I was most excited to read about was the sakura tree. I found it fascinating to learn that plum trees were actually more popular before sakura took the cultural spotlight. Another standout discovery for me was about birch trees, specifically how birch twigs were traditionally used for witch brooms and during Samhain, when the veil between the living and the dead was believed to be thinnest. Birch was used to brush away lingering malign spirits from the past year, which added a powerful symbolic layer I hadn’t known before.
Overall, this is a informative book that will appeal to readers interested in trees, folklore, mythology, and nature’s role in shaping human traditions. Even if you think you already know a lot about trees, there’s a strong chance you’ll come away having learned something new.
Thank you to Leaping Hare Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Folklore of Trees: The Fascinating Stories Behind Nature’s Guardians explores the deep-rooted relationship between trees and human culture, weaving together mythology, religious symbolism, seasonal traditions, and country lore. As someone already familiar with many tree facts, and a fan of trees, I was curious to see whether this book would offer anything new. There was some new facts introduced.
The book traces how trees appear throughout our lives and histories, from Yule logs and holly wreaths at Christmas to the fig tree in the Garden of Eden.
One of the trees I was most excited to read about was the sakura tree. I found it fascinating to learn that plum trees were actually more popular before sakura took the cultural spotlight. Another standout discovery for me was about birch trees, specifically how birch twigs were traditionally used for witch brooms and during Samhain, when the veil between the living and the dead was believed to be thinnest. Birch was used to brush away lingering malign spirits from the past year, which added a powerful symbolic layer I hadn’t known before.
Overall, this is a informative book that will appeal to readers interested in trees, folklore, mythology, and nature’s role in shaping human traditions. Even if you think you already know a lot about trees, there’s a strong chance you’ll come away having learned something new.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This truly is a gem of a book, there are so many different trees listed, from the common to the very unusual, and the facts and stories mentioned are fascinating and meaningful. I remember as a kid thinking trees were just, well trees. Now I’m definitely middle aged as I love and appreciate each and every one. Even more so after reading this.
If you’re at all interested in nature, tradition & history, then you need this on your shelves. It’s a perfect sized hardback book to dip in & out of, to be read again & again.
Majestic and magnificent. All the trees - and this book. 🌳
If you’re at all interested in nature, tradition & history, then you need this on your shelves. It’s a perfect sized hardback book to dip in & out of, to be read again & again.
Majestic and magnificent. All the trees - and this book. 🌳
April 30, 2026
Wonderful!
Great for lovers of nature, folklore, and human history (like me). The author does a fantastic job of pulling these together in a way that is both accessible and engaging. Beautifully illustrated and full of interesting facts.
I especially enjoyed how the book was structured, with a chapter for each tree - perfect for dipping in and out of!
Great for lovers of nature, folklore, and human history (like me). The author does a fantastic job of pulling these together in a way that is both accessible and engaging. Beautifully illustrated and full of interesting facts.
I especially enjoyed how the book was structured, with a chapter for each tree - perfect for dipping in and out of!
April 15, 2026
A fascinating insight into the relationship between tree and person. It covers a huge array of cultures and highlights the significance of a deeper relationship with trees. Well worth a read. It's not too intimidating either.
May 4, 2026
I planned to just read one page to see what it was like before packing it for a weekend away. And I couldn’t stop for hours, jumping from tree to tree to find out all their stories and the magic attached to them. This book is so interesting, deeply researched and fascinating to read.
June 17, 2026
A great little book packed full of interesting stories and facts about a wide range of tree species around the world. This is a great book to dip in and out of, with each tree species having a lovely illustration and a few pages explaining the mythology and stories surrounding it.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews