History Main / WiseTree

* ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'':
** ''VideoGame/PaperMario64'' has Wise Wisterwood of Flower Fields. You can go to the door either to go back to Toad Town or to get a hint as to what you should be doing next.

May sometimes overlap with TheMentor, GeniusLoci or WorldTree. Related to TheOwlKnowingOne. A type of NatureSpirit and PlantPerson. This often overlaps with {{Treants}}, which are often depicted as extremely old and wise beings.

* ''Series/{{Raven}}'': The Wisdom Tree in the Demon Square challenge, if you count knowing miscellaneous facts as being wise. The point of the challenge it appears in is for the contestants to determine whether a statement the Wisdom Tree says is either true or false via going on either the white path or the black (series 2-6)/red path (series 7-10) respectively. If they guess right, they get to move forward one square until reaching the end of the path and allowed to gain a ring or two but if they get two in a row wrong, they lose.

* ''Series/{{Raven}}'': The Wisdom Tree in the Demon Square challenge, if you count knowing miscellaneous facts as being wise. The point of the challenge it appears in is for the contestants to determine whether a statement the Wisdom Tree says is either true or false via going on either the white path or the black (series 2-6)/red path (series 7-10) respectively.

* ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'':
** ''VideoGame/PaperMario64'' has Wise Wisterwood of Flower Fields. You can go to the door either to go back to Toad Town or to get a hint as to what you should be doing next.

* ''VideoGame/PaperMario'': Wise Wisterwood. You can go to the door either to go back to Toad Town or to get a hint as to what you should be doing next.

** The Great Deku Tree from ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'', ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker The Wind Waker]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild Breath of the Wild]]'', is an immensely ancient and wise talking tree who serves as the guardian of the Kokiri/Koroks -- fairy-children and their PlantPerson descendants, respectively -- and of the Master Sword in ''[=BotW=]'', and typically as a guide and mentor figure to Link and a source of wisdom and knowledge. The tree dies in ''Ocarina'' and is replaced by the youthful Deku Sprout; the trees in later games are implied to be the Spout, having long since grown to his own elder age.

%% The examples on this page have been sorted alphabetically. Please help keep this page tidy by adding new ones in order. Thank you!

** Jurak in both games. Also, Father Yggdra in White Knight Chronicles II.

* ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}'': Jureimon (Cherrymon) is this in ''Anime/DigimonSavers'' and ''VideoGame/DigimonWorld''. He also played a sinister version of this in ''Anime/DigimonAdventure'', serving as a villainous advisor for Pinocchimon (Puppetmon), who kills him when he says something (entirely true) that [[PsychopathicManchild Pinocchimon]] doesn't want to hear.

* ''WesternAnimation/DungeonsAndDragons'': The cartoon has the Forest of Know Trees -- ''i.e''., Trees that Knew Everything.

%%* ''Literature/InheritanceCycle'': The Minoa Tree.

* In Buddhist mythology, the Bodhi Tree is where the Buddha gained enlightenment.

* Kael in ''VideoGame/{{Gobliiins}}''.

* Kael in VideoGame/Gobliiins

* In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyMysticQuest'', a giant tree in the Alive Forest blocks the way to the town of Windia. When Benjamin first enters the forest with the thief/ninja Tristam, they can't get past it. Later, when Benjamin returns with Kaeli, she is able to talk to the tree, who promises to grant them passage if they can cleanse it of monsters.

* Kael in "VideoGame/Gobliiins"

* Kael in [["VideoGame/Gobliiins" Gobliins 2: The Prince Buffoon]]

* Kael in [[VideoGame/Gobliiins Gobliins 2: The Prince Buffoon]]

* ''Series/{{Raven}}'': The Wisdom Tree in the Demon Square challenge, if you count knowing miscellaneous facts as being wise. The point of the challenge it appears in is for the contestants to determine whether a statement the Wisdom Tree says is either true or false via going on either the white path or the black/red[[note]]the latter path changed colors starting in series 7[[/not]] path respectively.

%%* ''Series/{{Raven}}'': The Wisdom Tree in the Demon Square challenge.

Naturally a JustifiedTrope since particularly large trees tend to be exceptionally old, and age equals wisdom, obviously. Plus, inasmuch as unless you are going to have [[WhenTreesAttack Walking Trees]], then a tree character isn't going to be able to contribute much physically or materially, and so their importance will rely on their contribution in knowledge and wisdom. Vice-versa, if a writer wants a character who dispenses wisdom but doesn't actually get involved, then making them a WiseTree is a good justification for them not lifting a hand to help.

May sometimes overlap with TheMentor, GeniusLoci or WorldTree. Related to TheOwlKnowingOne. A type of NatureSpirit and PlantPerson.

* Jureimon (Cherrymon) is this in ''Anime/DigimonSavers'' and ''VideoGame/DigimonWorld''. He also played a sinister version of this in ''Anime/DigimonAdventure'', serving as a villainous advisor for Pinocchimon (Puppetmon), who kills him when he says something (entirely true) that [[PsychopathicManchild Pinocchimon]] doesn't want to hear.
* Kabu from ''Anime/KirbyRightBackAtYa''. Kabu appears as an enemy in most of the games, but in the anime, he's much bigger and serves as an oracle and guardian to the Cappies (like the Deku Tree). He also houses the warp star when it's not in use. He may technically be a wooden statue, although he appears to be a tree.

* The animals in ''ComicStrip/OverTheHedge'' often consult [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin The Tree That Knows Stuff]]. Said tree is absent in the animated film, however.

* Grandmother Willow from ''WesternAnimation/{{Pocahontas}}'' is a wise tree, who acts as a spiritual guide to Pocahontas throughout the film.

* The Tree of Souls in ''Film/{{Avatar}}''. By "plugging into" it, the Na'vi could hear the voices of their ancestors.

* Treebeard and the Ents from ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings''.
* The Minoa Tree in the ''Literature/InheritanceCycle''.
* The novel ''Down Town'' is about a young boy's attempt to save an ancient WiseTree from forces that seek to destroy her.
* The tree Christ's cross was made from in ''Literature/DreamOfTheRood''.
* ''Literature/TheWiseMansFear'' has an ''evil'' Wise Tree called the Cthaeh, though it might be a being sealed within the tree, not the tree itself. It possesses [[TheOmniscient perfect knowledge of possible futures]] and absolute malice toward everything. While all the advice it gives to heroes is absolutely true, it will always steer the listener toward disaster. Could be considered an inversion in that the knowledge is non beneficial. Or at least a subversion of the common benevolent trees.
* Baffor trees in the ''Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse'' are sentient if in great numbers. Ithorians revere them. In ''Literature/TalesFromTheMosEisleyCantina'', an Ithorian has a small grove underground on Tatooine to advise them; during the story one is killed, and the trees' collective mind can't advise him. In ''Literature/GalaxyOfFear'', Tash once tries to connect to a grove through the Force.

* In ''[[Literature/YoungWizards So You Want To Be A Wizard]]'', Nita has a nice chat with the rowan tree behind her house, who reassures her that trees don't hate humans for cutting them down and offers her a branch that she needs for a spell.
* The father trees of the Pequeninos turn out to be this in the sequel novels to Orson Scott Card's ''Literature/EndersGame'', or at least some of them do. Human is pretty wise, but maybe not all of them are, and one of them turns out to be a murderer--not at all a stupid murderer, mind you, but not exactly wise.
* The weirwoods of ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' are believed by the Northmen and the Wildlings to be the physical representations of their gods, although it is strongly suggested that that belief is the heavily altered memory of a time when human Greenseers could possess trees and see and hear through them, and in any case, the trees do not talk, although the more religious among the Northmen and Wildlings do believe that their gods do commune with them indirectly through the weirwoods. In any case, this example at least plays with the trope. Later it is revealed that weirwoods store the souls of dead greenseers, and at least one living greenseer can communicate with people through the trees. Which is much closer to playing the trope straight.

* In ''Literature/TheUnderneath'', all trees are this, especially the thousand-year-old tree that Grandmother is buried under.

* The Wisdom Tree in the Demon Square challenge on the kids game show '' Series/{{Raven}}''.

[[folder:Music]]
* Music/TheyMightBeGiants' "O Do Not Forsake Me" is about how much it sucks to be this guy.
[[/folder]]

* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'': Treants are intelligent, mobile tree monsters that tend to be good-aligned and have high wisdom scores. However [[GoodIsNotNice this doesn't always make them friendly]] since they've often seen the damage that humanoid beings do to the forest with logging, hunting, and unrestrained use of fire.
* ''TabletopGame/{{Eberron}}'''s NPC with the highest given level (level 20 druid) is a talking tree -- not a treant, but an ''animated tree''.
* ''TabletopGame/YuGiOh'':
** Sylvan Hermitree, which makes sense as hermits are sometimes known for their wisdom. He is one of the strongest monsters in the archetype. He even has a miko named Mikorange.
** Sylvan Sagequoia, who is called "Sherman, Wise Tree of Shinra" in the OCG.

* There was one of these in ''VideoGame/BreathOfFireII'', though it was suffering from LaserGuidedAmnesia, and getting the information you needed from him required a JourneyToTheCenterOfTheMind to defeat the monster responsible for said amnesia.
* ''VideoGame/BreathOfFireIII'' had Yggdrasil the great tree of wisdom, who was also a Master in the game and could teach you various spells and stat changes. It's implied that party member Peco is one of its seedlings.
* The Green Man, a forest spirit who appears as an ancient, large oak in ''VideoGame/ConquestsOfTheLongbow'' will help Robin if he will provide the answers to his riddles.
* ''Videogame/DarkCloud'':
** Treant is a talking tree who gives Toan a sword to defeat the Killer Snake guarding the way in a local dungeon.

* The Grand Oak from ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'' is a tree possessed by a demon from a different plane, which talks in couplets. Being Dragon Age you can beat it up instead. It's definitely more of the neutral variety though it will trade you for a neat magical staff.

* ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 3}}''[='s=] Harold, to an extent.

* Subverted in ''VideoGame/GoldenSun''. You meet a giant tree, but then discover he's [[WhenTreesAttack not the]] nicest fellow. At least, not until you defeat the anger in his heart.
** Laurel in ''Dark Dawn'' also counts. Upon meeting her, [[TheWisePrince Amiti's]] immediate reaction is to bow in worship, then scold the others for not doing the same. "We're in the presence of an enlightened being. Bow your heads!" Laurel promptly rebukes him for doing so, since she doesn't really see herself as special. She's just like any other sapient, psychic tree spirit who's lived for hundreds of years...
* ''VideoGame/HeroesOfMightAndMagic 3.'' Some maps had wise old oaks in them who would grant you a level, once per hero, either in exchange for some gems/gold or just out of boredom.
* The talking tree in the swamp in ''[[VideoGame/KingsQuestMaskOfEternity King's Quest: Mask of Eternity]]'', who dispenses advice at the cost of a gold coin. Connor [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] this by asking why a tree would need money.
* Nyarlim [[spoiler:and Akara]] from ''VideoGame/KingdomsOfAmalurReckoning''. They are part of a group of twelve such trees which are all the offspring of the original WorldTree of the setting.

** The Great Deku Tree and the Deku Sprout from ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime''. Another Deku Tree, implied to be the grown-up Sprout itself, appears in ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker The Wind Waker]]'', and the original tree or an ancestor may be in ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword Skyward Sword]]'', though it doesn't speak.
** The Maku Tree from ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOracleGames''. The ''Ages'' Maku Tree hilariously subverts this by becoming a ClingyJealousGirl for Link after he goes back in time to rescue her younger sprout self from Veran's forces.
** Implied to a more downplayed extent with the Koroks in ''The Wind Waker'' and ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild Breath of the Wild]]'', where the larger and presumably older individuals such as Hestu have more tree-like growths on their bodies.
* The Wood Spirit in ''VideoGame/TheLongestJourney'''s prologue.
* ''VideoGame/{{NieR}}'' has the Divine Tree at the heart of the Forest of Myths, which the locals don't really interact with save for praying to it. Unfortunately it's not as wise as it used to be - it's supposed to be a repository for humanity's memories, but after 1,300 years it's starting to degrade. [[spoiler:Nier ends up killing it in another one of his NiceJobBreakingItHero moments that contribute to the extinction of mankind.]]
* Wise Wisterwood of ''VideoGame/PaperMario''. You could go to the door either to go back to Toad Town or to get a hint as to what you should be doing next.
* The Tree of Wisdom in ''VideoGame/PlantsVsZombies'' gives the player tips, cheat codes that have very little effect on gameplay, and plant puns. It doesn't have a face, though.
* The Dryad in ''VideoGame/QuestForGloryI'' protects the forest and gives the hero advise on how to make a dispel potion.

* There are a series of "Trents" in ''VideoGame/ShiningWisdom'' that help Mars through the woods and save the princes/swan.
* The Elderoot Tree in ''VideoGame/WildStar''. Not just a magic talking tree, [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot he's a magic talking CYBORG tree]]. [[spoiler: He gets blown up before he tells you anything useful unfortunately. But only after he sends you on some inane quests, as is par for the course.]]
* ''{{VideoGame/Ys}}'' has the Roda trees.

* The Dendros line of creatures in Website/UniCreatures are enormous, sentient trees, the final stage being described as a "repository of knowledge and wisdom."

* ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'': Peter Griffin once spoke to a forest full of talking trees, when he was pretending to be Native American. Unfortunately, talkative though they were, they were a subversion of the WiseTree trope. They provided no insight whatever.
* The epiphitrees from ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsonsMovie''.
* ''WesternAnimation/CourageTheCowardlyDog'': One of these grows on the farm in "The Magic Tree of Nowhere". It granted wishes and gave Courage wise advice, but Eustace was jealous of it. Courage was forced to stop defending it to help Muriel, and it was cut down. It planned this however, and the cure for Muriel's sickness was in its branches.
* The old ''WesternAnimation/DungeonsAndDragons'' cartoon had the Forest of Know Trees -- ''i.e''., Trees that Knew Everything.
* An episode of ''WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse1983'' had Skytree, the oldest living being on the planet Eternia, whom He-Man is told to cut down by the Dragon King Granamyr in order to have his friend Man-at-Arms restored (after Skeletor turned him into crystal). Despite the tree actually agreeing to be cut (!) He-Man cannot do it, as he cannot bring himself to kill a sentient being. Turns out it was just a SecretTestOfCharacter to find out if he deserved the Dragon's help. Granamyr restores Man-at-Arms anyway.
* One episode of ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitansGo'' features one of these. Robin chopped it almost immediately, however it lived on as a twig. Its ultimate fate was to become a toilet plunger.

* The Elderoot Tree in ''Videogame/WildStar''. Not just a magic talking tree, [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot he's a magic talking CYBORG tree]]. [[spoiler: He gets blown up before he tells you anything useful unfortunately. But only after he sends you on some inane quests, as is par for the course.]]
* ''{{Franchise/Ys}}'' has the Roda trees.