Elden Ring's Tree of Erd: Players Deck Holiday Halls

Reddit user Independent-Design17 proposed an intriguing connection between Elden Ring's Erdtree and the Australian Christmas tree, Nuytsia floribunda. Superficial similarities are evident, particularly when comparing the game's smaller Erdtrees to the Nuytsia. However, the parallels run deeper.

Elden Ring lore depicts the Erdtree as a guide for the souls of the departed, explaining the catacombs at its base. Interestingly, Nuytsia holds similar significance in Australian Aboriginal culture, considered a "spirit tree." Each flowering branch represents a deceased soul, and its vibrant color is linked to the sunset, the believed destination of spirits.

Further bolstering the comparison is Nuytsia's semi-parasitic nature; it draws nutrients from surrounding plants. This resonates with a popular fan theory suggesting the Erdtree is parasitic, having usurped the life force of an ancient Great Tree. However, game text referencing a "Great Tree" is now understood to be a translation inaccuracy, referring instead to the Erdtree's own extensive root system.

Ultimately, whether FromSoftware intentionally drew inspiration from Nuytsia floribunda remains a mystery known only to the developers.