what's your favourite tree?

Recently I was asked the question, "what's your favourite tree?"  I would normally find questions like these quite daunting.  My response would most likely be a question, a need for clarification, or maybe even a qualifier.  But if we are talking non-palm tree, because in my mind they are their own EPIC grouping outside of "tree," I would then be able to confidently say Delonix Regia or Royal Poinciana as it is most commonly referred to as.  There's something about the soft foliage and the almost blinding red flowers that make this tree divine.

There is nothing quite like driving down a street lined with these beauties.  It is certainly a show stopper of a tree.  Unfortunately - like most of my favourites - it belongs in the zone 10 category of wonderful plants that I can't grow.

But as I often do, I get to play the substitutionary plant lust game.  I have found that the closest and incredibly beautiful tree in its own right that we can grow is Albizia Julibrissin.  What is your favourite tree? Or favourites? Do you too have to play the substitutionary plant lust game?!  I'll leave you with my favourite shot of Royal Poinciana .....