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, fans have uncovered deeper thematic parallels. In Elden Ring, the Erdtree guides the souls of the deceased, a concept reflected in the catacombs at its base. Similarly, Nuytsia holds spiritual significance in Australian Aboriginal culture, with each flowering branch representing a departed soul, its vibrant color linked to the sunset, the perceived destination of spirits.
Further strengthening this connection is the semi-parasitic nature of Nuytsia, which draws nutrients from neighboring plants. This mirrors a popular fan theory suggesting the Erdtree is parasitic, having usurped the life force of an ancient Great Tree (though in-game descriptions clarifying this as the Erdtree's own Great Roots suggest a translation error).
Ultimately, whether these parallels to Nuytsia floribunda are deliberate design choices or coincidental remains a mystery known only to FromSoftware.
