Even common trees are amazing enough, but some trees are just spectacular, whether by their sheer size, age or shape or through mysterious properties they seem to possess. There’s the tree that serves as the single sign of life in a vast barren desert, the ones as old as dinosaurs and the almost sinister yet beautiful trees that snake their roots through ancient temples. There are undoubtedly hundreds of magnificent tree specimens in the world, as there are so manyfascinating and visually stunning forests, but here is a selection of 15 particularly incredible trees that are nothing short of breathtaking.

Axel Erlandson was an American ‘arborsculptor’ who planted trees in specified patterns and pruned, bent and grafted them into shapes not seen in nature.  He opened a horticultural attraction in 1947 near Santa Cruz, California named “The Tree Circus”, and people flocked in from all over the country to view his unusual and striking creations. After the land changed hands several times, 24 of Erlandson’s trees ended up in the Gilroy Gardens amusement park. The 5 pictured are the “Basket Tree”, “Telephone Booth Tree”, the “Two Leg Tree” and two with unknown names.

Upon approaching the world’s largest cashew tree, you might think you’re entering a forest. But despite covering about 8,500 square meters, it is indeed a single tree. The 117-year-old tree, which is 80 times larger than an average cashew tree, has become a bit controversial ever since its roots started taking over a nearby highway, only allowing one car to pass at a time. Specialists fear it might die if trimmed. It currently takes up an area larger than a soccer field and bears 80,000 fruits per year.