Most tree mythology and/or correspondences come from Celtic and/or Classical mythology, so I have decided to compile a few of the better-known Scandinavian trees and their lore.
Apple – Sacred tree of immortality (think Idun) and fertility. Holds the sacred star (sliced cross-wise). Some scholars think that the Old Norse word for apple (in Norw. eple) may have been used as a general name for all fruit (think of the British word corn, which refers to grain in general, as it was used before maize was imported from the New World). However, given the fact that almost no other fruit besides berries and apples are native to Scandinavia, it was unlikely that it was originally applied to anything but apples.
Birch – Symbol of youth and purity, used in many cultures (particularly Finnish) as cleansing tool (think sauna switches). Sap is very sweet and can be made into birch beer. First tree to reclaim glaciated land after the recession of glaciers during the last ice age.
Yew – Used by Ull in his sacred bow (yew heartwood is the best bow wood). Generally considered a symbol of death as every single part of the yew is poisonous (makes sense to be a weapon of hunting). Also, yews have red sap, and older ones with many cuts/holes have been called “bleeding yews” and are considered very bad luck.
Pine – Considered a symbol of life and immortality. Regarded as a peace tree, with the sacred flame in the grain of its wood, the pine is a soothing tree to be around. Its needles exude a fresh, cold scent that is cleansing and astringent, as well as full of vitamin C.
Ash – The World Tree: Yggdrasil. Considered to be the father of all trees and is associated with water. Ask (as in Ask and Embla) was the first human man, made from an ash log by Odin and his brothers. Is associated with healing and the sea.
