A tree with green bark is not a typical sight whatsoever.
You might think that if you did see one, it might be a sick tree that had some fungus or something growing on it.
That is not the case. These trees are completely natural and have naturally green bark their whole life!
In this article we will take you through five trees with green bark, a little about their types, and their various uses of tree bark.
Understanding Bark
Before we go into the different species of trees with green bark, we think it’s important that you learn what makes the trunk of a tree and how it gets its green color.
The bark of a tree is the outer layer that protects the tree from predators, sun damage and other environmental forces.
A tree’s bark can have different colors caused by multiple factors, such as the species of tree, age and various times of the year.
What Is It Made Of?
The outer bark is made up of res dead vascular tissue (xylem) formed in the previous growing season when water was more plentiful.
Water storage within these cavities can occur at any time but is especially important during droughts that occur during summer.
The inner bark lies external to the vascular cambium tissues and is made of relatively thin-walled cork cells (sclerenchyma).
Cork cells may be present between bundles of xylem vessels called tracheids and takes up a significant percentage of the overall cross-sectional area (even as high as 30%!) in some coniferous species (such as the redwood (Sequoiadendron giganteum).
Bark Color
Typically, trees that are found in sunny locations generally have a darker bark compared to trees that typically grow in shady locations.
In addition, trees that have a faster growth rate in the warmer months usually have a darker bark because their growth is stimulated and need to protect themselves from the sun.
What Makes the Bark Color Green?
Trees have a green coloration in their bark because of the chlorophyll in the plant.
Chlorophyll is a type of pigment that appears in the plants and enables them to convert light or solar energy into chemical energy, which is used by the tree’s cells to perform their daily work.
Specifically, magnesium, and iron give chlorophyll the green color to the trees.
Chlorophyll is present in all portions of the tree but is concentrated in the outer layers of the bark.
The reason the outer layers of the bark have the most chlorine is that they are exposed to sunlight, and the tree needs to harvest as much light as possible to create even more energy.
Bark Texture
The bark of an older tree gets tougher and thicker to keep predators away, like insects or animals.
The texture of the bark is also different from the section of the tree; the branches are often smoother bark than the trunk since the branches are exposed to sunlight and winds.
5 Trees With Green Barks
1. Palo Verde Trees
Palo Verde trees are an unusual kind of species that have a lot of chlorophyll in their bark.
Their tree bark has a unique look since many have green trunks and different colored tints as well.
Fun Fact: The palo verde tree fruit is edible and sweet, similar to dates, and can be eaten fresh or dried. It is also processed into candy and drinks. The leaves from Palo Verde trees can be used in an herbal tea to relieve bronchitis, tuberculosis and various lung diseases.
2. Foothills Palo Verde
This species of Palo Verde has a green trunk that has a range of yellows and is known for their pods surrounding their seeds as well as having tiny leaves.
When the leaves blossom off of this plant, they turn a bright luminescent yellow, and the bark of the trees as well as their branches are green in color. The species is also known as Palo Verde because of their bark; palo verde means “green stick” in Spanish.
The trees that are in the Palo Verde family are commonly located in upland regions and on coarse soils.
These trees can have incredibly long lives, extending 100 years, and the oldest Foothills Palo Verde can reach 400 years of age.
3. Blue Palo Verde
The Blue Palo Verde has gray and green bark, usually with the trunk being blue and green because of how the tree grows in and around water.
It has pods that grow in pods with Foothill Palo Verde, although the outer shell of this pod is more rigid that other relatives in its family.
Palo Verde trees are mostly found in desert areas like washes and bajadas because the blue Palo Verde requires a lot of water as part of its sustenance.
4. The Sonoran Palo Verde
The Sonoran Palo Verde species has a range of blue and green bark that comes in different shades and color. They are also taller than other types, reaching about 30 feet tall.
The leaves will always be bluish-green but can also come in silver or grayish-green as one of the many color options of the flower.
The leaves are long and oblong in a contrasting brilliant yellow color of the flower that offsets the blueish-green leaves.
As a tree, it provides food because it has green legumes that will be available for food in the winter and summer — so it also provides food from the tree, which is a great benefit!
5. The Mexican Palo Verde
The fast growth rate of the Arizona Feogra is the fastest among all the Palo Verde; the bark has a good trait
The bark color will change from grey to green with maturity.
This tree can be found in warm temperate regions around the globe, these trees thrive in hot arenas and with limited water associated with it. Mexican Palo Verde is also the least tolerant of all Palo Verde family members.
They also adapt to soil types and tolerate variable conditions.
Adding to the issue, since they tolerate well with insufficient water they will also tolerate the occasional amounts of rain. They and other relative plants can survive droughts.
The Use of Palo Verde Trees
The beans of the Blue Palo Verde tree have long been recognized as a food source, and the tree’s wood has been used to produce different utensils such as ladles.
The flowers of the Blue Palo Verde trees are edible and can either be eaten raw or cooked.
Palo Verde trees have a fair bit in the way of medicinal uses as well, including applications for antibacterial and antiseptic qualities.
Tea made from the leaves of the trees could produce a laxative effect and is regarded as treatment for headaches and stomach ache as well.
Benefits to the Environment
The Palo Verde Tree is a nurse plant to other plants, such as the Saguaro cactus.
The leaf litter from the plants can create a root zone rich with nitrogen, which promotes plant growth.
The bright yellow blooms at the top of the Palo Verde tree attract many pollinators and bees.
The tree’s canopy also provides the perfect shade for animals and birds that are native to the areas in which they grow.
The Mexican Palo Verde has finely textured foliage.
As a result, it can support different kinds of plants under its shade. It is also very popular as a centerpiece tree in gardens and is often used to stabilize soils in the areas in which it grows.
What You Can Get Out Of The Wood
- Palo Verde has a denser wood than other species, but not as dense as ironwood. The wood grain is unique, resembling aspen trees, and due to the porous nature of the wood it burns fast. This is why it works great for starting fires.
- Another aspect of Palo Verde is the time frame for harvesting. Given its wood composition, the Palo Verde tree can be quickly cut up into manageable pieces.
- Foothill Palo Verde is considered viable for wood and timber. There are reports of it being used to manufacture timber products such as furniture.
- Mexican Palo Verde has a long history of being a great firewood alternative for livestock fodder or charcoal.
- The reason Palo Verde wood has value is because it costs a lot, due to its infrequent usage which helps raise the value of a finished product once it is sanded correctly for finishing.
- Although the wood is not as hard as other hardwoods, it works great for building doors or windows and other structure, but does not hold up to heavy loads.
Gardening
Palo Verde trees, particularly the Mexican Palo Verde, have been made iconic in the gardening world.
They exhibit rapid growth to a point, extremely robust branches, and beautiful long-lasting blooms.
Especially true if you live in a hot, dry climate with little support for growth of plants or trees.
Palo Verde trees thrive in these climates because the more porous a tree is, the more rainwater it can absorb.
Palo Verde trees are very porous, and their bark is capable of absorbing and hosting an exceptional amount of water.
Pollinators, especially bees, will be plentiful with the flowers on this tree, which will round out a type of garden in the desert environment.
Final Thoughts
For years, the lovely green bark of the Palo Verde has been a cherished sight the scarcity of the tree makes it even more special and valuable.
The Palo Verde trees are highly resistant to drought and can live for centuries.
Now that you are aware of the various benefits trees with green bark can provide, the next time you see one, take a section of its exterior home with you, if permitted.
You can keep it as a souvenir, or just boil it to prepare a soothing cup of herbal tea!