What do you call a tree that's always sad?

The humor in this gardening gag sprouts from a clever bit of wordplay. It takes the human emotion of "weeping," meaning to cry, and playfully applies it to a tree. The setup primes you to think about a sad plant, and the punchline then brilliantly twists that expectation by referencing a tree whose very name describes its droopy, almost tearful appearance.

Weeping willows are instantly recognizable thanks to their distinctive long, slender branches that gracefully arch and hang down, often touching the ground. This unique growth habit is what gives them their "weeping" moniker, not because they’re actually shedding tears, but because their branches resemble a cascade of flowing hair or, indeed, tears. These elegant trees have graced landscapes and inspired poets for centuries, often found near bodies of water, which only enhances their serene and sometimes melancholic beauty. The joke simply connects their visual characteristic with a common human expression of sadness for a lighthearted laugh.