Home

Lebensbaum

Lebensbaum is the German name for several evergreen conifers of the genus Thuja, commonly known as arborvitae in English. In German-speaking horticulture, the term typically refers to species such as Thuja occidentalis and Thuja plicata, which are valued for their dense, evergreen foliage and their ability to be shaped through pruning. Lebensbäume are widely used as ornamental plants, hedges, screens, and windbreaks in parks and gardens. They occur in temperate regions of North America and East Asia and are cultivated in many climates. They range from small shrubs to tall trees, with leaves arranged in flat sprays and small cone-like fruit.

Symbolically, Lebensbaum also denotes the Tree of Life, a motif found in many world cultures and religious

In modern usage, the dual meaning of Lebensbaum—both a horticultural plant and a cultural symbol—occurs in discussions

traditions.
As
a
symbolic
tree,
it
represents
concepts
such
as
life,
growth,
renewal,
and
interconnection
of
all
living
things.
In
Christian,
Jewish,
Islamic,
and
various
mythological
contexts,
the
Tree
of
Life
appears
as
a
symbol
of
immortality,
wisdom,
or
the
unity
of
creation.
In
German
literature
and
art,
the
term
can
evoke
ideas
of
nature’s
abundance,
continuity,
and
the
cyclical
patterns
of
life.
of
gardening,
landscape
design,
and
the
aesthetics
of
nature
in
culture.
See
also
Tree
of
Life,
Arborvitae,
and
World
tree.