You’re about to visit an external website. This resource is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement.
Select CONTINUE to proceed, or close this window to return to Herb Pharm.
Herbal KnowledgeApr 8, 2025
6 Herbal Trees You Should Know About
In honor of Arbor Day, let’s show the herbal trees of the world some appreciation. Arbor Day was started in 1872 by J. Sterling Morton, a journalist, politician, and conservationist who wanted to promote reforestation on the Great Plains. In the 1970s, Arbor Day became an official national holiday which we still celebrate to this day.
While all trees are beloved, today we’re putting 6 herbal trees in the spotlight. Learn about these special trees that are used to make your favorite herbal allies.
Albizia
Albizia is a beautiful tree that’s known for its unique, pink fan-like flowers and bottlebrush leaves. This herb has been revered in China for centuries, and it’s sometimes referred to as “The Tree of Happiness” or “Silk Tree.” It has a wide native range, going from Eastern Transcaucasia to Japan.
We make our Albizia liquid herbal extract using the responsibly wildcrafted bark from Albizia julibrissin trees. When it comes to herbal use, Albizia is traditionally used to provide stabilizing support to the nervous system and soothes the heart in times of grief.*
Botanical Name: Albizia julibrissin
- Common Name(s): Albizia, Happiness Bark, Silk Tree, Mimosa Tree, Pinyin: He Huan Pi
- Plant Family: Fabaceae
- Native Habitat: China, but now found in Europe and North America
- Parts Used: Bark
- Use(s): Traditional stabilizing support for the nervous system. Traditional support for calming the mind and soothing the heart in times of grief.*
- Flavor Profile: Slightly bittersweet and acrid, woody
Boswellia
With its flaky bark and compound leaves, Boswellia is certainly a tree that looks like an old-world marvel. This herbal tree produces a resin that has been used since ancient times in Ayurveda. Otherwise known as Indian Frankincense, Boswellia was used in biblical times to create incense, herbal preparations, and for embalming.1
Our Boswellia liquid herbal extract is made with resin that’s harvested from Certified Organic Boswellia serrata trees in India. As an herbal ally, it provides traditional support for the joints.*
Botanical Name: Boswellia serrata
- Common Name(s): Boswellia, Indian Frankincense
- Plant Family: Burseraceae
- Native Habitat: Africa, Arabian Peninsula
- Parts Used: Resin
- Use(s): Traditionally used for joint support.*
- Flavor Profile: Aromatic, almost floral, and somewhat bitter
Ginkgo
Here’s a fun fact: Ginkgo is actually considered a living fossil! It’s the only surviving species of an ancient group of plants, the Ginkgoaceae plant family, that existed over 200 million years ago.2 Ginkgo trees are very slow growing, but prove slow and steady wins the race – because they can live up to 4,000 years!
In western herbalism, the green leaves are harvested just before they turn yellow in the fall. The unique leaves contain the constituent ginkgolides, which have not been discovered in any other plant species.2 Consider adding Ginkgo liquid herbal extract to your lineup to promote circulation and enhance both memory and concentration.*
Botanical Name: Ginkgo biloba
- Common Name(s): Ginkgo
- Plant Family: Ginkgoaceae
- Native Habitat: Eastern Asia
- Parts Used: Leaf
- Use(s): Promotes good blood circulation and enhances memory and concentration. Foundational nootropic support for healthy cognitive function. Ancient herbal support for modern brains.*
- Flavor Profile: Earthy, slightly sour, and astringent
Guayusa
Guayusa is one of the exciting herbs that’s new to Herb Pharm and exclusive to our capsule collection. Our Guayusa capsules are made with the leaf of this lovely tree. The native range of this species spans from western South America to Venezuela, and it grows primarily in the wet tropical biome.
Guayusa is a member of the Aquifoliaceae (Holly) plant family, and can get up to 100 feet tall in the wild. Guayusa has a long history of use in South America, and we love it for it's ability to support alertness, mental focus, and give you real energy without the extra jitters.*
Botanical Name: Ilex guayusa
- Common Name(s): Guayusa
- Plant Family: Aquifoliaceae
- Native Habitat: South America
- Parts Used: Leaf
- Use(s): Involved in antioxidant processes. Gives you real energy and deep focus without the jitters.*
- Flavor Profile: Sour and bitter
Hawthorn
The Hawthorn tree is one that looks like it’s straight out of a fairytale, and it’s fitting because it shows up both in Celtic lore and the Brothers Grimm retelling of Sleeping Beauty.3 It’s known for its gnarly trunk and branches, little white May blossoms, and small, red apple-like berries. Hawthorns also have long, sharp thorns along their branches.
We make our Hawthorn Blend liquid herbal extract using a blend of Hawthorn berries, leaves, and flowers. The leaves and flowers are harvested in spring or early summer, and the berries are responsibly wildcrafted in autumn. As an herbal ally, Hawthorn Blend promotes healthy heart and circulatory function.*
Botanical Name: Crataegus spp.
- Common Name(s): Hawthorn, May Tree, Beltane Tree
- Plant Family: Rosaceae
- Native Habitat: Europe, North America
- Parts Used: Leaf, Flower, Berry
- Use(s): Promotes healthy heart and circulatory function.*
- Flavor Profile: Aromatic, fruity, and a little sour
Willow Bark
Willow is a large, fast-growing tree that’s often found in wetlands and along stream banks where the roots can protect the soil from erosion. Willow trees are native to a wide geographical area, from the Russian Far East to Northern China, as well as Korea and Japan. There are hundreds of Salix species.
Willows and Willow bark have been used in herbalism for thousands of years. Willow was the plant from which salicylic acid was isolated in 1828. In herbalism, Willow liquid herbal extract is used as support for occasional minor pain from injury.*
Botanical Name: Salix spp.
- Common Name(s): Willow
- Plant Family: Salicaceae
- Native Habitat: Europe, Asia, North America
- Parts Used: Bark
- Use(s): Support for occasional minor pain from injury.*
- Flavor Profile: Sweet, sour, and slightly aromatic
Pharmers for Habitat Restoration
As a Regenerative Organic Certified® farm, we don’t clear-cut trees to make space for more farmland. There are lots of trees that grow in the habitat around our farm. Some examples are Big Leaf Maple, Douglas Fir, Pacific Yew, and Manzanita trees (among many others). We happily take care to protect these trees because they benefit the local ecosystem so much. Here you can see some volunteers from our Sustainability & Habitat Restoration team, who continuously work on the riparian area around our farm – including planting trees!
Resources
- [1] Boswellia | tree genus | Britannica. www.britannica.com. https://www.britannica.com/plant/Boswellia
- [2] Plants for a Future. 1996-2012. Plants for a Future Database: Ginkgo (Plants For A Future, 26 August 2020). Devon EX7 9LX England.
- [3] Yale Press. Hawthorn Power in Fairy Tales, the Cult of the Virgin, and the Cult of the Undead - Yale University Press. Published July 20, 2015. https://yalebooks.yale.edu/2015/07/20/hawthorn-power-in-fairy-tales-the-cult-of-the-virgin-and-the-cult-of-the-undead/