Reddit user Independent-Design17 proposed a fascinating connection between Elden Ring's Erdtree and the Australian Christmas tree, Nuytsia floribunda. Superficial similarities exist, 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 deceased, explaining the catacombs at its base. Intriguingly, Nuytsia holds similar spiritual significance in Australian Aboriginal culture. Each flowering branch represents a departed soul, and its vibrant colors are linked to the sunset, the perceived destination of spirits.
Further strengthening 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 translations reveal this "Great Tree" is actually a misinterpretation, referring instead to the Erdtree's own extensive root system.
Whether FromSoftware intentionally incorporated these Nuytsia elements remains a mystery, known only to the developers.
