Completely Arbortrary

Underplanted, Underrated, Underappreciated (Japanese Pagodatree)

18 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Underrated, underplanted, underappreciated… so why isn’t the Japanese pagodatree (Styphnolobium japonicum) a more popular as a street tree in our ...

Ivory & (Ebony)

11 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

work together in perfect harmony (guitar reference). Today, learn all about the ebony (Diospyros ebenum), it's typical path through capitalism, and th...

The Odysseed (Lotus Tree)

04 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Hop aboard the good ship Odyssey to make for the island of the lotus tree (Diospyros lotus). But, could this be a case of mistaken idenitree?...Comple...

Holiday Merch Sale + Urban Trees and Racism

27 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As we take a quick break we're here to remind you that our holiday merch sale ends ON BLACK FRIDAY, and reintroduce you to our talk on urban trees and...

BONUS EPISODE: Fungus in the Fall

20 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As the boys take a much needed break from the wild world of modern podcasting, they present to you the audio from a 2023 livestream entitled Fungus in...

Splitting Facts (Weeping Juniper)

13 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

So many junipers, so little time. So let’s pick one! How about the weeping juniper (Juniperus flaccida)? Buckle up, it’s gonna be a bumpy one.Comp...

Goin' Thig Mode (Fraser Fir)

06 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The boys are joined by their first ever third host to discuss goin' thig mode with thigmomorphogenesis and the Fraser fir (Abies fraseri). Then, a tes...

Deal with the Devil (Bigleaf Magnolia)

30 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

BEEware of the bigleaf magnolia (Magnolia macrophylla). This tree made such a strong alliance with beetles, that any other insect trying to get in get...

Lil' Apple Make This Horse Go Crazy (Manzanilla de la Muerte)

23 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

DO NOT TOUCH this week’s tree (Hippomane mancinella), it makes horses go crazy!Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex ...

Mummy and Me (Coffintree)

16 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We need a tall, straight, decay-resistant, fragrant wood… call THE COFFINTREE (Taiwania cryptomerioides). Why has this tree been used consistently f...

Creature from the Black Tea Lagoon (Swamp Tupelo)

09 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Out of the black tea lagoon comes a swamp monster! It’s the swamp tupelo (Nyssa biflora)—swollen butt and all—who has learned how to breathe… ...

Sectored Architecture (Rocky Mountain Bristlecone Pine)

02 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What if your left foot was in charge of keeping your left hand alive? What if your right big toe was responsible for the right ear? With sectored arch...

Pavlova (The Fruit That Serves Itself)

25 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The maracuya, the passionfruit, the fruit that serves itself (Passiflora lindeniana) produces one of the best fruits in the world (unbiased opinion), ...

Zwetschgenkuchen (European Plum)

18 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Did you save room for dessert? We're having zwetschgenkuchen, or German plum cake, made with the European plum (Prunus domestica).Completely Arbortrar...

Baesuk (Asian Pear)

11 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Asian pear (Pyrus pyrifolia) is the centerpiece of a Korean dish called baesuk; a dessert even Frankenstein would love.Completely Arbortrary is produc...

Baklava (Pistachio)

04 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It's Plant Based Diet: Just Desserts, where we talk about 4 of the world's sweetest trees. First up, the pistachio! (Pistacia vera) Hear all about its...

Buzz Pollination (Bigberry Manzanita)

28 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Buzz buzz! Let’s connect some pollen the new fashioned way with the Bigberry Manzanita (Arctostaphylos glauca).Completely Arbortrary is produced and...

BONUS EPISODE: What is Bark? + Alex's Hawaiian Adventure

21 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What's up Fungal Associates!? This week we have part 2 of our bonus episode fortnight and bring you "What is Bark?" Which asks the question.... well, ...

BONUS EPISODE: What is Soil? + Casey's Throat Catastrophe

14 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What's up Fungal Associates! For the next two weeks we bring you some OLD SCHOOL bonus episodes (circa 2021). Why? Well, because Casey took a frisbee ...

All Trees Go To Heaven (American Beech)

07 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I think, therefore I am... a tree - American Beech (Fagus grandifolia)Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex CrowsonSupp...

Keyaki (Japanese Zelkova)

31 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The tree you don’t know that you know, but you know it! The Japanese zelkova (Zelkova serrata) is the center of a fascinating tale of isolationism, ...

Insultivar (Chokecherry)

24 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Don't go chokin' on this cherry (Prunus virginiana) or else you may turn red! And Canadian!Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp...

Dial M for (Maxipiñon)

17 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A mystery cone… a mystery tree! What the maxipiñon has to say about genetic bottlenecking may unlock its secrets!Completely Arbortrary is produced ...

Zombie Survivors (Vietnam Cypress)

10 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What happens when trees have to run for their lives and the only way is up? The Vietnam cypress (Xanthocyparis vietnamensis), that's what!Completely A...

There's Always Money in the (Banana Tree)

03 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It’s a BANANZA with the banana (Musa acuminata), a fruit so popular that it helped shape the political landscape of the world. Completely Arbortrary...

The Lean (Cook Island Pine)

26 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Lazy, back problems, or just a Fonzie-esque casual attitude? Whatever the reason, the Cook Island pine (Araucaria columnaris) leans mysteriously towar...

The New Mahogany (Ipê)

19 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Introducing... TROPICAL VACATION! 🌺 a series all about tropical trees! Our first visit is Brazil, where the ipê (𝘏𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘯𝘵...

BONUS EPISODE: Treeasy Listening #1

12 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Kick back with Casey and Alex while we play you our favorite jams from recent days. Become a Treemium Member at arbortrarypod.supercast.com to enjoy b...

Parthenocarpy (Paperbark Maple)

07 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Parthenowhatnow? Parthenocarpy! Why are 90% of the paperbark maple's (Acer griseum) infertile? Only nature knows.Completely Arbortrary is produced and...

Trunk Drawer (Governor's Plum)

29 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It's a bit of governor's plum, innit? (Flacourtia indica) But where to put it? This wayward species finally found a home with the willows, but what ha...

Bean Leaves in Bondage (Silk Tree)

22 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Let's get kinky with the silk tree (Albizia julibrissin). This beautiful tree has a very curious way of keeping its leaves close to the stem. Then we ...

Reversion Therapy (White Spruce)

15 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What happens when a tree mutates? In the case of the white spruce (𝘗𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘢 𝘨𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘤𝘢) it creates a dwarf version of itself...

Fight Shrub (Butternut)

08 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Put up your dukes, for a battle between the city, the people, and the trees. At the center is butternut (Juglans cinerea), and it's shading you, your ...

What a (Knobcone Pine)!

01 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Who started the fire? It may have been the knobcone pine (Pinus attenuata) in a ditch attempt to RELEASE THE SEEDS! This curious pine has a curious wa...

Anomalous Secondary Growth (Ombú)

24 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Anomalous secondary growth! What in the world is it? Just ask the ombú (Phytolacca dioica), pokeweed’s tree-like cousin. It doesn’t make wood, it...

Golden Cone Ratio (Austrian Black Pine)

17 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Golden Ratio: a fact of life on Earth, or an copy and pasted alien blueprint? Perhaps the answer lies in the cones of the Austrian black pine (Pin...

BONUS: Lord of the Tree Rings Marathon

10 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What's up, Middle-Earthlings! Casey and I are taking a much-needed break this week, and so we present to you a hilariously massive extended edition ep...

Inside Sprout: Joy (Money Tree)

03 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What makes you happy? Is it money? Or maybe it’s the money tree (Pachira aquatica). This famous houseplant is also a forest tree, so why did it beco...

Inside Sprout: Sadness (Weeping Cherry)

27 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What makes trees weep? Perhaps the answer lies in the aptly named weeping cherry (Prunus x subhirtella 'Pendula'). Today we talk gravitropism and why ...

Inside Sprout: Anger (Jeffrey Pine)

20 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What makes you angry? Is it the Jeffrey pine (𝘗𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘴 𝘫𝘦𝘧𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘺𝘪)? Perhaps it’s the smell, a controversial topic ...

Inside Sprout: Fear (Silver Maple)

13 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Why are we so afraid of the silver maple (Acer saccharinum)? Perhaps because of the risk involved. In today’s episode of Inside Sprout, we discuss t...

Inside Sprout: Disgust (Black Locust)

06 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to Inside Sprout, a 5 part mini-series on trees that best embody and illicit our most basic human emotions. Today we start with disgust and th...

Ball is Life (Rubber)

27 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Take me out to the ball game… the one where they bounce a solid rubber (Castilla elastica) ball between their hips. Today we take it way back for a...

Little Kid (Balsa)

20 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The lightest wood there is, the balsa (Ochroma pyramidale) is one excited little kid. It grows fast, has ice cream cone flowers, and you can even carr...

The Chipko Movement (Banj Oak)

13 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In the second part of our eco-feminism series, we discuss the Chipko movement, a practical manifestation of eco-feminist ideologies out of India. Auth...

Parent Earth (Sitka Spruce)

06 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What makes a tree innately "feminine"? We can't explain it, but we can roughly explain eco-feminism, and how it affects our opinions of, and behaviors...

Low-Hanging Fruit (Jaboticaba)

30 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Oh, what fun is the jaboticaba (Plinia cauliflora) with it’s curiously growing fruit. Learn about this tree before diving headlong into a discussion...

Clickbait Tree (Walking Palm)

23 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The tree that walks! (not really) The walking palm (Socratea exorrhiza) is beloved by Tik-Tok clickbait content creators for its astounding ability to...

Ironheart (ʻŌhiʻa Lehua)

16 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

ʻŌhiʻa Lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha) is Hawaii's most populous tree, and perhaps its most adaptable! For a tree that grows on literal lava flows,...

Artificial Instemination (Florida Torreya)

09 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Happy 2025! Let’s start with a tree so out of time and place that it’s suffering the most endangered situation of any conifer in the world. Then, ...

SEEDPOD: Whittlin' with Justin Davies

02 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Today we whittle spoons alongside woodworking gem Justin Davies, and hear about Justin's dos-and-dont's while carving, how he got into the hobby, and ...

Christmas in Australia (Moodjar)

26 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Merry Christmas! Let’s gather ‘round the Moodjar (Nuytsia floribunda). But look out, this fascinating tree has a few quirks that make it an expert...

Myrrh & (Frankincense)

19 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Only two wise men showed up. But, good news: they brought frankincense (Boswellia sacra) and myrrh (Commiphora myrrha), two storied plants known for t...

That Hummock Life (Gumbo-Limbo)

12 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The gumbo-limbo (Bursera simaruba) is living that hummock life, and loving every minute of it. This resiliant tree stays low to the ground and says “...

Worm! Worm! Worm! (Yellow Birch)

05 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In an episode heavy with rants and strong opinions, we discuss the yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis). Leafblowers, giant earthworms, and birches al...

Yerba-maté (Gourd Herb)

28 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Would you like a cup of tea? Try the gourd herb (Ilex paraguariensis), a tropical tree famous for its massive contribution to the world of drinkables....

Life Goes On (Curlleaf Mountain-Mahogany)

21 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Life goes on... and on... and on... for the curlleaf mountain-mahogany (Cercocarpus ledifolius). What can we learn from this long-lived, tough-as-nail...

A Place for Everything (Keteleeria)

14 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In the second of our “odd Pine family distant cousins” we talk Keteleeria (Keteleeria davidiana), and the perfect pocket of China where this and m...

Larchy Bark and the Trunky Bunch (Golden-Larch)

07 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we explore the golden-larch (Pseudolarix amabilis), a unique member of the pine family that feels a bit like the “weird cousin at t...

NOT A MANGO, DO NOT EAT (Sea-Mango)

31 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

WARNING: This is not a mango. Do not eat this non-mango, this Lord of Lies, this Great Deceiver, for it is the sea-mango (Cerbera manghas) and it abso...

Stung By Thirty Wasps (Giant Stinging Tree)

24 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we explore Australia’s infamous giant stinging tree (Dendrocnide moroides) and its neurotoxic hairs that cause agonizing pain. How ...

Parenchyma Schmarenchyma (Boojum Tree)

17 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Join us as we get weird with the Boojum tree (Fouquieria columnaris), a quirky desert oddball with some fascinating parenchyma. Plus, Casey reads an i...

The 𝘹 Files (Munz Oak)

10 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Join us on a mysterious journey through time to discuss the Munz oak (Quercus x munzii), a curious hybrid of UNKNOWN ORIGIN!Completely Arbortrary is p...

Sitting Under a (Western Sycamore)

03 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Join us for an afternoon chat under this gorgeous Western sycamore (Platanus racemosa) and hear about what Casey and Alex and reflecting on lately. Co...

Dam! (China-Fir)

26 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Dam! Let’s talk about them, and about the China-fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) and the ingenious agroforestry methods of the Kam people of China.Comp...

SEEDPOD: Alie Ward from OLOGIES

19 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Fabulous, Funny, Smart, and Warm woman we all love, ALIE WARD graces the podcast today. We can hardly believe it. Alie was a very important part o...

Yellow Die (American Smoketree)

12 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

“I’d rather see a smoketree than a tree smoking.” Enter the American smoketree (Cotinus obovatus), a beautiful little tree that was nearly used ...

Weirder Sex (Striped Maple)

05 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to the Alternative Sex Experience, featuring the striped maple (Acer pensylvanicum). In our continued discussion on dioecy, this one takes a c...

A Tale of Two Houses (English Holly)

29 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It’s beginning to look a lot like… an invasive pokey nightmare, with the English holly (Ilex aquafolium). Learn all about dioeciousness, and what ...

Let Your Neighbors See You Naked! (Leyland Cypress)

22 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Just another arborvitae, the Leyland cypress (Cupressus × leylandii et al) has to be one of the most deplorable species we’ve investigated on Compl...

Smokey Bad (Western White Pine)

15 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Great Fire of 1910 greatly changed the (literal) landscape of northern Idaho, as well as the continent’s population of western white pine (Pinus...

Xiāngfěi (Chinese-Nutmeg)

08 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A fascinating tree with no shortage of fun facts, the Chinese-nutmeg (Torreya grandis) is a cornerstone of Chinese history and traditional medicine. A...

Sweet Pea (Tamarind)

01 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We continue our plant-based diet with a giant of the culinary world, the tamarind (Tamarindus indica). Whether in chamoy or pad thai, this sweet pea i...

Banana Sundae (Ice-Cream Bean)

25 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

You think ice cream grows on trees?! The ice-cream bean (Inga edulis) is one of nature’s greatest gifts to humanity. This agroforestry behemoth is S...

Chewing Gum (Sapodilla)

18 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This is Plant-Based Diet: Part Chew, a new series from Completely Arbortrary all about trees that give us food! In this episode, we discuss the sapodi...

Ants and Fungiculture (Almécega)

11 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Did ants invent agriculture? Kind of, yes! Learn how in this itchy episode on South America’s own almécega (Protium heptaphyllum).Completely Arbort...

What is Photosynthesis?

04 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Hardship strikes the house of Arbortrary, so please enjoy this bonus episode all about our favorite process in nature, photosynthesis!Completely Arbor...

Weird Sex (Black Tree Fern)

27 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

No, it's not a Tree. But, it is a tree. The black tree fern has some incredible qualities, not least of which is the way it creates more ferns. Get re...

The City That Trees Built (European Alder)

20 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

About 1600 years ago, a group of refugees settled on a mucky swath of land that would one day be known as Venice. What followed is one of the greatest...

The Book of Casey

13 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this bonus episode, hear all about how Casey became Casey. His schooling, career trajectory, and the fated beginning of Completely Arbortrary.See P...

Superiority Complex (White Fir)

06 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Sorry, it’s a fir thing. The white fir (Abies concolor) is no simple tree. It’s a part of broader complex of trees. What does this mean for in the...

Age of Deceit (Alerce)

30 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A tower of clouds in the forests of Chile, and the center of a dendrochronological scandal, the Alerce (Fitzroya cupressoides) is a monolithic beauty ...

When Good Trees Go Bad (Laurel Oak)

23 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What happens when good trees go bad? You get the laurel oak (Quercus laurifolia), a suitable template oak with a bad habit. Living in the wild, this t...

BONUS EPISODE: What is a Leaf?

16 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

After living a life of stem for the last 7 weeks, we need a break! So this week, you get a bonus episode: what is a leaf? In this episode from 2021 we...

7 Deadly Stems: ENVY (Giant Bamboo)

09 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A grass so interesting it earned a spot on Completely Arbortrary, giant dragon bamboo (Dendrocalamus sinicus) is a stunningly large species with no sh...

7 Deadly Stems: PRIDE (Ohio Buckeye)

02 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Pride, the downfall of many an ancient Greek hero, is the subject of today’s Deadly Stem. As is the Ohio Buckeye (Aesculus glabra). How did this und...

7 Deadly Stems: GREED (Russian-Olive)

25 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

An oft-reviled tree, the Russian-olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) is the quintissential greedy little bastard. Its invasiveness is infamous, and the dis...

7 Deadly Stems: WRATH (Bullhorn Acacia)

18 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Are you sensitive? Do you show aggression when you're afraid or perceiving some sort of attack? Do you have a mercenary army of ants at your disposal ...

7 Deadly Stems: GLUTTONY (Common Fig)

11 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The common fig (Ficus carica): one of humanity’s first food obsessions. From covering Adam’s junk to covering other Eve’s junk, this plant has n...

7 Deadly Stems: SLOTH (Weeping Willow)

04 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

*Yawn*. The weeping willow (Salix babylonica) is one of the most recognized trees in the world, but boy is it lazy! Learn about the questionable roots...

SEEDPOD with David Allen Sibley

01 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We are honored to be joined by author, illustrator, and overall bird-and-tree-advocate DAVID ALLEN SIBLEY! We talk to David about his process, whether...

7 Deadly Stems: LUST (Coco-de-Mer)

28 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Coco-de-mer (Lodoicea maldivica) is the most sexual tree on the planet, and we’re out to prove it. Listen to find out how this lusty tree is the...

There's No Gum Like (Snow Gum)

21 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Do you inherit strong muscles, deft fingers, or musical talent? Jean-Baptiste Lamarck sure thought so… and groundbreaking research suggests he may h...

Feeling Rusty (Western Serviceberry)

14 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Feeling rusty? The western serviceberry sure is (Amelanchier alnifolia). In this episode, we discuss the russ(t) and how it affects our arboreal frien...

Kissing Cousins (Rocky Mountain Pine)

07 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The pondero—we mean, the Rocky Mountain Pine (Pinus scopulorum) asks us the ultimate version of the question: are you a lumper or a splitter? Compl...

TREEMIUM EPISODE: Renaming Nature

29 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

There is a shakeup in the bird world: ornithologists are renaming every bird whose common name is based on a human! So why can't we do this for trees?...

S.A.D. (Witch-Hazel)

22 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Everyone gets S.A.D. from time to time, so it's a good thing we have the witch-hazel (Hamamelis x intermedia), a tree (or shrub) that flowers in the d...

Welcome to the Jungle (Brazil Nut)

15 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to Completely Arbortrary, you’re gonna LEARRRRN all about the Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa). On this episode as diverse in “fun facts”...

Native-Invasive (Western Juniper)

08 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Oh this juniper is ever so western (Juniperus occidentalis). When it comes to ecological turmoil, when is it okay to blame a tree, and when should we ...

SEEDPOD: Phyllis Reynolds, Portland Tree Legend

05 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Meet Phyllis Reynolds: original Portland Heritage Tree committee member, author of Trees of Greater Portland, and overall hardcore tree advocate. We s...