Many flowers and many fruits symbolize a large family and abundant blessings – the Happy Tree – is a rare wild plant in China that has attracted significant attention from the youth of Guizhou.
At the Guizhou Provincial Botanical Garden, two Happy Trees grow side by side, with less than two meters between them. Their trunks are straight, with lush branches and leaves that create a canopy over the sky, providing shade even in the summer heat.
Each tree is marked with a protective sign, which states that the tree is a Happy Tree, a famous ancient tree species listed for protection in Yunyan District, Guizhou, with a lifespan of 115 years.
Currently, the Happy Trees are in the flowering and fruiting season. The flowers typically bloom in July and August, featuring pure white petals resembling dandelions; by September, they bear fruit that looks like a miniature version of a banana bunch, incredibly attractive.
Two 115-year-old Happy Trees in Guizhou. (Image: Tianyan xinwen).
A Rare Tree Once Cut Down for Firewood
The Happy Tree (Camptotheca acuminata) is a deciduous hardwood tree native to China. Mature trees typically exceed 20 meters in height, with gray or light gray bark that is shallowly grooved.
The Happy Tree thrives in warm and humid climates, unable to withstand harsh cold and dryness, and grows in areas with an average annual temperature ranging from 13°C to 17°C and annual rainfall exceeding 1,000 mm.
In 1999, the Happy Tree was listed as a national level II protected wild plant, but it was removed from the list in 2021.
Previously, many rural residents in China often cut down Happy Trees for firewood, unaware that the entire tree is a “treasure.”
In 2018, researchers at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute (USA) reported that camptothecin – a natural substance extracted from the Happy Tree – possesses strong anti-cancer properties.
According to Vietnam News Agency, a study published in the journal PLOS Biology on February 25, 2022, also indicated that camptothecin can trigger a chain reaction that suppresses natural hunger, opening up prospects for developing new anti-obesity therapies.
In fact, the Happy Tree has been used as a medicinal herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine for hundreds of years, but it has received little attention.
Additionally, the Happy Tree is not only valuable for its medicinal properties but also for its decorative and economic value. As a fast-growing hardwood species with high yields, it is cultivated for shade, as street trees, and for afforestation.
The fruit contains fatty oil used in industry. Its lightweight, soft wood is suitable for paper, plywood, interior decoration, and everyday items.
