Trees are one of those things that are usually just outside of our awareness. They’re so common, and always ‘just there,’ that sometimes we fail to really notice them, and to admire their beauty.

The following trees are too beautiful to ignore, however. Just take a peak at these 16 most unusual and stunning trees the earth has to offer.

How do I love thee, tree? Let me count the ways; you change carbon dioxide into the oxygen we breathe, you sequester carbon, and you provide shelter for countless critters. There are many reasons for which we should all be tree-hugging hippies, but within the scope of this article, all we’ll focus on is how amazing some of them look.Granted, not all of these amazing beautiful trees are trees (the Wisteria is a vine, Rhododendrons are shrubs, and bamboo technically belongs to the grass family), but we’ll give them a pass because they are amazing, huge and beautiful. So once you step outside and take a breath of fresh air, hug the nearest tree and say thank you!

If you know of an amazing tree not on this list, you can submit it at the bottom of this post.

125+ Year Old Rhododendron “Tree” In Canada
A small Canadian town hopes to become a tourist attraction thanks to the internet fame of a homeowner’s giant rhododendron.
The 25ft (7.6m) by 30ft bush in Ladysmith, British Columbia, is now in peak bloom and putting on quite a show.The 115-year-old botanical wonder – known as Lady Cynthia – will carry about 4,000 spring blossoms over the next couple of weeks.The rhododendron is often confused for a tree but is actually a shrub.

The 144-year-old Wisteria in Japan
In Tochigi, Japan, there is a beautiful wisteria tree that lies in Ashikaga Flower Park. This tree has often been deemed the most gorgeous tree in the world. It also happens to be the oldest tree and largest tree to currently exist in Japan. This historical fact attracts many tourists and even locals to come visit the park just so they can look at this amazingly beautiful tree.

The Windswept Trees at Slope Point, New Zealand
This is Slope Point. It is the southernmost tip on New Zealand’s South Island. The airstreams loop the vast circumpolar Southern Ocean unobstructed for 2000 miles and then they smash into land. Here. They are so persistent and so violent that the trees are perpetually warped and twisted into these crooked, windswept shapes.

The Japanese Maple In Portland, Oregon
Proclaimed the most authentic Japanese garden outside of Japan, the Portland Japanese Garden is a 5.5-acre haven located within Washington Park in the west hills of Portland, Oregon, USA.

A Beech tree with hanging moss in Oregon
The antarctic beech is native to Chile and Argentina, though this specimen is from the U.S.’ North Pacific region.

Cherry blossoms in Bonn, Germany
Although most people think of Japan when they hear the words ‘cherry blossom festival’, you’ll find impressive pink blossoms all over the world. In the old town (Altstadt) of Bonn, Germany you will find a number of cherry blossom tunnelled streets such as Heerstraße and Kölnstraße that explode with colour every Spring.The bloom typically occurs some time in April and when it happens people flock in droves to the picturesque streets. The ornamental Japanese Cherry Blossoms were first planted in the 1980s and they have become a major attraction for the historic city.

Angel Oak In John’s Island In South Carolina
The Angel Oak Tree is estimated to be in excess of 400-500 years old, stands 66.5 ft (20 m) tall, measures 28 ft (8.5 m) in circumference, and produces shade that covers 17,200 square feet (1,600 m2). From tip to tip Its longest branch distance is 187 ft. There is considerable debate about the age of the Angel Oak. Some contend that it is 1,500 years old. Most believe that the more conservative estimates are more accurate.

Flamboyant Tree, Brazil
Delonix regia is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae, subfamily Caesalpinioideae. It is noted for its fern-like leaves and flamboyant display of flowers. In many tropical parts of the world it is grown as an ornamental tree and in English it is given the name Royal Poinciana or Flamboyant. It is also one of several trees known as Flame tree.
This species was previously placed in the genus Poinciana, named for Phillippe de Longvilliers de Poincy, the 17th century governor of Saint Christophe (Saint Kitts). It is a non nodulating legume.

Dragonblood Trees, Yemen
Dracaena cinnabari, the Socotra dragon tree or dragon blood tree, is a dragon tree native to the Socotra archipelago, part of Yemen, located in the Arabian Sea. It is so called due to the red sap that the trees produce.

The President, Third-Largest Giant Sequoia Tree In The World, California
Meet the ‘President’.The giant sequoia tree in Nevada’s Sequoia National Park is 3,200 years old, has 2 billion leaves and stands 247 feet (74 metres) tall.The portrait of the giant tree, taken by National Geographic, is actually a mosaic, made up of 126 photographs in order to capture the stunning full-length shot.

Maple Tree Tunnel in Oregon
If you’re a fan of bewitching tree tunnels then you certainly cannot miss the maple tree tunnel in St. Louis Oregon. Yes, this is just one of the many tourist attractions in the area, but this is definitely among the first places you should visit.

Rainbow Eucalyptus In Kauai, Hawaii
Even the trees have rainbows in Kauai! Colorful Rainbow Eucalyptus Trees can be seen at the Keahua Arboretum. The trees get their rainbow colors when patches of bark shed at different times of the year, then darken and mature into shades of green, orange, red and other colors. The trees, native to the Philippine island of Mindanao, were imported to Hawaii in the 1920s to aid in reforestation and to control soil erosion. The trees can grow to over 200 feet tall.

Jacarandas in Cullinan, South Africa
From late September to middle November, Jacarandas bloom all over Pretoria and turn the face of the city purple. It is estimated that there are almost 70 000 Jacarandas growing around the many streets, parks and gardens of Pretoria.

Avenue Of Oaks At Dixie Plantation In South Carolina
This avenue of oak trees was planted some time in the 1790s on Dixie Plantation in South Carolina.

Baobab Trees In Madagascar
The Baobab trees (also known as an upside down bottles or monkey bread trees) are believed to be the largest succulents in the world as well as some of the tallest trees. There are several different species that vary somewhat in appearance, but all are deciduous, flowering trees that can live for hundreds and even thousands of years. They are slow-growing trees that are indigenous to Madagascar, Africa and Australia. They can grow up to 70 feet tall and feature an over-sized, extremely wide caudex that the plant utilizes for water storage during the dry season. The bark is brown and gray and typically smooth, though it can crack and bend as the tree ages.

The Dark Hedges In Northern Ireland
This beautiful avenue of beech trees was planted by the Stuart family in the eighteenth century. It was intended as a compelling landscape feature to impress visitors as they approached the entrance to their Georgian mansion, Gracehill House. Two centuries later, the trees remain a magnificent sight and have become one of the most photographed natural phenomena in Northern Ireland.In fact, the iconic trees have been used as a filming location in HBO’s epic series Game of Thrones, representing the King’s Road.