Baobab Tree Day
Baobab Tree Day is May 17th
Baobab Tree Day, observed on May 17, honors one of the most ancient, unusual, and awe-inspiring Trees on Earth. Often called the “Tree of Life,” the baobab stands as a powerful symbol of resilience, community, and survival in some of the world’s harshest climates.
This holiday celebrates a tree that not only looks extraordinary but sustains life around it.
The Origins of Baobab Tree Day
Baobab Tree Day was created by Patti Jewel and the HolidaySmart Visionary Team. With a team of tree lovers, they decided that there were not enough days to celebrate Trees. The Epic Tree Holidays began with an epic tree being named each month.
Why May 17?
May marks seasonal transitions in many parts of the world, a fitting time to celebrate endurance and renewal. Baobab Tree Day highlights strength, sustainability, and the life-giving role trees play in both ecosystems and communities.
All About the Baobab
Nine species exist of Baobab trees in the genus Adansonia. Two are native to mainland Africa, six to Madagascar, and one to Australia. All nine inhabit low-lying, arid regions with a short wet season and a long hot dry season. The most well-known species is Adansonia digitata, native to Africa, though several baobab species grow in Madagascar and Australia.
Where It Grows
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Sub-Saharan Africa
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Madagascar
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Parts of Australia
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Dry, tropical savannas
Size & Characteristics
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Height: 30–100 feet tall
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Trunk: Massive and swollen, storing thousands of liters of water
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Lifespan: Often over 1,000 years
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Leaves: Hand-shaped (palmate)
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Fruit: Nutrient-rich, sometimes called “monkey bread”
Baobabs are deciduous, shedding their leaves during dry seasons. When bare, their branches resemble roots stretching into the sky giving rise to legends that they were planted upside down.
The Baobab Tree is Africa's Iconic Tree of Life
The epic baobab tree is an icon of the African continent and is a big part of traditional African remedies and folklore. It is a symbol of life in a landscape where little else thrives. The baobab is a succulent that absorbs and stores water enabling it to produce fruit in the dry season.
The tree has adapted to the African environment and is a source of survival for the African culture. Every part of the baobab tree is valuable. The bark is used for clothes, textiles, ropes, nets, paper and baskets. The seeds are used for cosmetic oils or to brew a coffee like drink. The leaves and flowers are also edible and typically boiled and eaten. The fruits are large egg shaped pods and offers one of the highest antioxidant nutrients in the world. And if not picked off the tree, the fruit is preserved by hanging on and drying out, still retaining it's nutritional value.
Baobab trees also provide shelter for both humans and animals. They grow up to 30 metres high and have a circumference of up to 50 metres. Found all across Africa, they live up to 5,000 years.
What Makes the Baobab Epic?
The epic silhouette of a baobab tree has become iconic in movies such as Disney's Lion King, Madagascar, and Avatar. They are like no other tree on the planet with a thick bulbous trunk and spiney branches at the top. In the dry season when the branches are bare, the trees look like they were pulled out of the ground and placed upside down with the roots on the top.
🌍 It Stores Water
Its enormous trunk acts as a natural reservoir, helping it survive drought.
🌍 It Feeds Communities
Its fruit, leaves, and seeds provide nutrition and medicine.
🌍 It Lives for Centuries
Many baobabs outlive generations, becoming cultural landmarks.
🌍 It Brings People Together
Villages often gather beneath baobabs for meetings, storytelling, and shelter.
🌍 It Looks Like No Other Tree on Earth
Its dramatic silhouette makes it one of the most recognizable trees in the world.
How to Celebrate Baobab Tree Day
Draw a picture of a Baobab Tree
Baobab Trees are an iconic tree representing life and longevity. See if you can draw a baobab tree that showcases these traits and share your drawings.
Plant a Baobab Tree
Baobab is a low maintenance tree and can be grown in pot. It can be planted outside in areas such as southern California or south Florida. Baobab bonsai is famous and is particularly well suited for pot growing.
Share images of Baobab Tree on your social media
Share images of the Baobab Tree on your social media and give a shout out to connect with other tree lovers to share in the appreciation of this epic tree.
How Baobab Tree Day Unites Us
The baobab reminds us that trees are more than scenery they are caretakers of life. It represent life and longevity. Though many people may never see one in person, its story connects us across continents. It teaches resilience in dry seasons, generosity in difficult climates, and the importance of protecting ancient living treasures.
On May 17, we celebrate one of Earth’s most spectacular and meaningful trees and the shared responsibility to care for the forests that sustain us all.
