Trees are pretty amazing. They’ve been on Earth for 370 million years. From the redwoods of California to the Tree of Tenere, they’ve long fascinated humans. Some, like the redwoods are respected for their size — some of them big enough to drive a car through. Others, like the Ashbrittle Yew, are famous because of their long history — already old when Stonehenge was built.
As humans, we have an important relationship with trees. In return for creating oxygen for us, we support them. It’s estimated there are about 3.04 trillion trees in the world. Of those, there may be as many as 100,000 different species that account for 25 percent of all plant life on Earth.
One of the reasons trees have such a long lifespan is their ability to adapt to their environment, some even growing after they’ve been chopped down or uprooted. Here are 60 trees that refused to give up even in the harshest conditions.
1. “I get knocked down, but I get up again”
This palm tree fell over but wasn’t bothered in the slightest. It just curved back up and like a trooper, continued growing.
When this tree fell over, that might’ve been the end of it. But instead, it grew four new trees out of the fallen trunk.
3. Straight out of a rock
Trees can even grow straight up through a rock, as long as their roots manage to reach nutrients. This tree didn’t just grow but it thrived on top of a boulder.
You’d think once a tree is chopped up and turned into furniture, it’d know to stop growing. Well, no one sent a memo to this still-sprouting chair.
No trunk? No problem. This tenacious little tree decided to make one out of a speed limit sign. Who knew trees were so creative?
6. Concrete isn’t a barrier
This tree was planted in a narrow box of soil and surrounded by pavement. But it refused to stay in its box. Instead, its roots crisscrossed the sidewalk.
7. It’s a tree from another tree
This tree had such a generous bed of moss and nutrients on its branch, it was a perfect place for …another tree. It’s growing tall and strong on the arm of its friend.
You might think a tree couldn’t find nutrients in such a tiny amount of soil. But this tree doesn’t know the word impossible and is determined to grow no matter what.
9. Guess they’re out of town
We don’t know how long this building’s been abandoned, but judging by that tree, we can only imagine. It’s growing straight through the window.
This tree sprouted out of the stump of another tree. When the stump rotted away, the tree continued growing with some impressive roots.
11. It’s in a perfect spot
It’s winter and all the other trees got the message to start shedding their leaves. But this one has its take on the summer sun to keep its leaves on.
This tree was on a ledge too far away from adequate nutrients. So, it came up with a plan: grow its roots across to the mainland, where there was plenty of water.
13. Don’t mind the skates
Many decades ago, a man hung his ice skates on this tree and forgot about them. He rediscovered them in his old age and was amazed at how the tree adapted.
This tree was chopped down but refused to die. I guess no matter what we do to them, they’re still the ones calling the shots.
15. Straight up through a piano
When someone left an old piano in the woods, this tree wasn’t about to be deterred. It just continued to grow — straight up through the keys.
This tree was growing alongside a fence. Come to find out, paper beats metal. The result looks similar to a face that’s chowing down on the rail.
Winter’s arrived, but this tree refuses to accept it. As long as it can, it’s going to keep growing with all its leaves intact.
18. Completely submerged yet still growing
After this tree fell, it was submerged under the water. Pulling all those nutrients from the water, it continued to grow.
Someone chopped this tree down thinking that would be the end of it. Little did they know it would keep growing, even from the old stump.
20. It’s growing underneath the paint
It takes some effort for a tree to put out roots under a layer of dry paint. But it’s determined to establish its roots wherever it can.
21. Becoming one with the fence
When this fence was installed it gave support to the tree. The wood grew up through the chain links, turning it into a spiral.
You might think these boulders are the most inhospitable place for supporting plant life. But this tree found a way — up between the rocks and toward the sky.
Who knew one tree could turn into five? This one just keeps growing and sprouting new trees. It makes you wonder how long it’ll continue.
24. It grew around a statue
This is a little unnerving until you realize what it is: the tree grew around a statue, making it look like a person’s trapped inside. Okay, maybe it’s still unnerving.
25. It grew right through the fence
This tree might’ve grown beside a fence, but it had no problem forcing its way through. Sometimes, nature is much stronger and more persistent than we think.
This little tree’s growing in the most inhospitable place, but it just keeps trucking along. It’s a nice spot of beauty in a sea of concrete.
Who would’ve thought a tree could grow on top of a telephone pole? Eventually, someone might cut it down, but it’s a testament to nature’s tenacity.
28. No foundation? Grow anyway
This tree barely has any ground underneath it — you can see half its roots dangling in the air. You’d think it couldn’t grow at all.
29. Hollow but still thriving
This tree’s completely hollow, but it’s still growing strong. How’s that even possible? I’m the wrong person to ask.
30. This tree looks like a snake
This palm tree fell but it looped around and kept growing. It almost looks like an enormous python instead of a tree.
31. Growing through the pavement
This tree doesn’t care that it’s surrounded by concrete. It burst straight up through the concrete and is doing its best to let nature reclaim the city.
This little tree’s growing straight up through the pavement. If it’s not taken care of soon, it might very well uproot the whole sidewalk as it gets bigger.
33. Hope there’s never a fire
This tree grew straight up around a fire hydrant. It’s a testament to how safe the neighborhood’s been, I guess. Hopefully, they never need that hydrant.
This tree didn’t necessarily need to grow outward, but it decided it was hungry. Then it ate the entire bench. Now it’s half-tree, half-bench.
35. The biggest vase in the world
This tree’s been growing out of a silo for more than 20 years. It looks like a gigantic vase with a flower on the top.
At first glance, this looks like a single tree. Then, when you look more closely, you realize it’s a real tree growing on top of another tree.
37. “No problem, I’ll grow right here”
This tree decided to somehow grow straight out the side of a building. We have no idea how that’s possible — it seems like a little tree wouldn’t get enough nutrients there.
This tree might just hold a record for the number of extra trees grown from a single trunk. It fell over and grew seven new trees. Take that, Mother Nature.
This little tree’s determined to squeeze itself up through rock to reach the sunlight. And if it’s undisturbed, it’ll probably grow into a full-sized tree.
We’ve learned that trees growing on top of silos is a lot more common than initially thought. This one looks eerily like an enormous carrot, thanks to the color of the silo.
Give a seedling a couple of inches and it’ll grow into a full-sized tree. All this one needed…a hole in the middle of a brick.
42. It’s a palm tree and an oak tree
You’ve seen trees grow other trees of the same kind, but have you ever seen one grow a different kind of tree? This palm tree made its way up through an oak.
43. It if falls…just grow more trees
When this tree fell, it had no problem continuing to grow. It just decided to turn its branches into new trees.
While someone decided to cut this tree down, it didn’t make any difference. It simply sprouted a new seedling and continued going exactly as before.
This tree’s roots had to adapt to unusually rocky soil, and the result is pretty cool. Is it just me or does it look like it’s walking across the sand?
After being abandoned, plant life was allowed to overtake this bridge. That included a tree that didn’t care where it was…it flourished.
47. Held up by almost nothing
After the ground beneath it eroded, this tree managed to stand strong — holding on by only its roots. It wasn’t going to let a little thing like a lack of soil get in the way.
48. No fence can hold me back
Years ago, someone decided this tree needed a fence. But the tree disagreed and now the fence is part of the tree.
49. Eat your surroundings
Trees have an uncanny way of consuming everything in their path, including bricks, structures, and fences. You’d think stone would be stronger, but…not even close.
50. Oh, is this your roof?
Trees don’t care about where they’re “supposed” to grow. They prefer to grow where they want, even if that means on top of your roof.
This tree gets full marks for an excellent recovery. It fell but then rallied and kept growing. If only we could all recover so well.
This tree gives us the best example of what to do when you’re stuck between a rock and a hard place. Just grow through them and keep being awesome.
53. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree
This tree sprouted up from another tree just like it. I guess you can say it’s a chip off the old bark.
54. This is a perfect spot
We don’t know where this tree’s getting its nutrients or how it buried its roots. But whatever it’s done, it’s thriving on the top of an old building.
55. “Excuse me, comin’ through…”
This little tree gets kudos for resilience, which managed to grow out of the side of a house. It just forced its way straight through the bricks without having a care in the world.
When this tree fell over, it wasn’t about to give up. Instead, it kept growing, just in a new direction.
This tree refuses to accept it’s been chopped up into firewood. You call it living in denial; I call it refusing to accept defeat.
This might look like two trees, but it’s only one. The trunk split and then grew back together, creating a fascinating pattern.
The scars on this tree trunk look painful, but it just goes to show how tough it is. It’s taken a lot of beating from that fence, but it’s still going strong.
60. Well, that’s a problem
What happens when an animal leaves a seed in your gutter? Well, you might get an entire tree. It’s cool, but you need to tear it out before it crushes your house.
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Source: Bored Panda
Trees are pretty amazing. They’ve been on Earth for 370 million years. From the redwoods of California to the Tree of Tenere, they’ve long fascinated humans. Some, like the redwoods are respected for their size — some of them big enough to drive a car through. Others, like the Ashbrittle Yew, are famous because of their long history — already old when Stonehenge was built.
As humans, we have an important relationship with trees. In return for creating oxygen for us, we support them. It’s estimated there are about 3.04 trillion trees in the world. Of those, there may be as many as 100,000 different species that account for 25 percent of all plant life on Earth.
One of the reasons trees have such a long lifespan is their ability to adapt to their environment, some even growing after they’ve been chopped down or uprooted. Here are 60 trees that refused to give up even in the harshest conditions.
