From Newton's apple tree to Buddha's Bodhi tree: Iconic trees that still exist

Throughout history, certain trees have stood well beyond their botanical existence as emblems of profound human experience and milestones. From the very tree where an apple once inspired Isaac Newton to formulate his theory of gravity to the Bodhi tree under which Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment, these iconic trees continue to stand as a living testimony to pivotal moments in history.

Sir Isaac Newton's apple tree


Newton’s Apple Tree, located at Woolsthorpe Manor in Lincolnshire, England, is famously linked to Sir Isaac Newton’s discovery of the law of gravity. It so goes that this was the place where the great man was inspired by watching one of the apples fall from the tree. The original tree was knocked down in the storm in 1820, but miraculously grew again from its roots and still survives today. It represents inspiration and curiosity for science and attracts visitors from every corner of the globe who have a desire to visit a place where one of the most important breakthroughs ever was made in the scientific world.



Hemlock Tree


Emily Dickinson had a profound connection with nature, which is evident in many of her poems. A notable example is the hemlock tree in her garden at the Dickinson Homestead in Amherst, Massachusetts. For her, hemlock became a great inspiration, symbolizing solitude and contemplation. Today, the tree remains standing, and the Homestead has been turned into a museum dedicated to her life and work. She has had her legacy and the environment in which she drew inspiration to create and think built upon.



The Bodhi Tree

Bodh Gaya in Bihar, India, is one of the holiest places in the country because it is where Siddhartha Gautama, later known as the Buddha, became enlightened some 2,500 years ago. Flanking the Mahabodhi Temple is the Bodhi Tree, considered to be a direct descendant of the tree under which the Buddha sat in meditation. Today, it stands as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, being the major shrine of the Buddhist world. The place attracts countless visitors who yearn to find some sort of enlightenment and seek spiritual growth.



The Ankerwycke Yew

The Ankerwycke Yew is the ancient tree standing in Runnymede, Surrey, England is believed to be over 2,500 years old. According to sources this tree is believed to have seen the signing of Magna Carta in 1215. As such, it has become a living embodiment of British history and heritage. Its long standing connects the past with the present and reminds the country of events that shaped the nation. Today, the Ankerwycke Yew stands firm as a shadow of the strength of nature and one of the crucial historical moments it has silently witnessed over the years.


The Kabirvad Tree

Kabirvad is located on a river island in the Narmada River near Bharuch, Gujarat. It encloses 3.7 acres of land and can be dated back to the 15th century. It has a Kabir temple and is considered to be a significant religious and cultural site because of its history. Kabir allegedly used to sit underneath the tree as he meditated. Kabir meditated under this tree, which grew from a shoot he planted. According to the myth, the two Brahmin brothers, Jeeva and Tatva, had planted a dry shoot of a banyan tree in their courtyard and assumed that only a true saint could transform it into a lush green thing. As the story goes, Kabir made the shoot bloom to become the gigantic Kabirvad tree at the present location. The tree canopy and thousands of aerial roots make it one of the largest banyan trees in India. Generally, the visitors cross the Narmada River by boat to come to the site, which is a symbol of its long-standing spiritual and cultural values.