Looking for a unique tree that also has potential medicinal benefits? Look no further than Camptotheca acuminata, also known as the Happy Tree, Cancer Tree, or Tree of Life. Native to central China, these medium-sized deciduous trees can grow up to 20 meters tall and are usually included in the tupelo family Nyssaceae. They are grown for their foliage with large, glossy, and strongly ribbed leaves that are a pale pinkish bronze on new growth flushes. In summer, they produce stalked, spherical heads of tiny white flowers followed by enlarged heads of curious yellow-green, sharply angled fruit that turn brown before falling in autumn. But Camptotheca also has potential medicinal benefits - an extract from the tree (camptothecin) is used as an anti-cancer treatment. So not only is it visually stunning, but it may also have a positive impact on health. These trees are commonly cultivated in some parts of China and sometimes grown in Southern California, making them a unique addition to any landscape.
