Weirwoods

Weirwoods are a fictional species of tree featured in George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series and its television adaptation, Game of Thrones. These trees are distinguished by their distinctive white bark and blood-red leaves. They are native to the continent of Westeros and are often found in ancient forests and sacred groves. Weirwoods are deeply significant in the religion and culture of the First Men, an early civilization in Westeros.

These trees are believed to possess a form of sentience and memory. Their sap is red, resembling blood, and is said to carry the memories of those who have interacted with the tree. The First Men carved faces into the trunks of weirwoods, which they believed allowed the trees to witness and remember events. These carved faces are a recurring visual motif and are often depicted as having a sorrowful or watchful expression.

The heart of a weirwood tree is a special part of its structure. It is within the heartwood that the tree's perceived mystical properties are strongest. It is common for rituals and ceremonies to take place near or at weirwood trees, particularly those with carved faces. The children of the forest, an ancient race from Westeros, also have a strong connection to weirwoods, using them for communication and other magical purposes. The significance of weirwoods diminishes in later eras of Westerosi history as newer religions gain prominence, but they remain potent symbols of the past and enduring spiritual sites for some.