When we think of memorializing someone, we typically think of flower bouquets and small, cute trinkets that make the recipients feel special. However, flowers eventually need to be discarded and these trinkets usually get tucked away somewhere out of sight. A lasting gift you can give someone to honor someone’s memory is a memorial tree. Suffering a loss is difficult for all of us, but being able to have a tribute to our loved one that will last for ages is priceless. Below are 14 of the best memorial tree companies people love.
Trees for a Change
My favorite place to find memorial trees is Trees for a Change. These memorial trees are planted in areas of forests that have fallen victim to fires and are in the process of being restored. Depending on what package is purchased, every item bought includes at least one tree being planted in memory of a loved one. Recipients will have access to online maps and photos of the trees as they thrive, and each tree will also come with an explanation of the tree and the project in general. The U.S. Forest Service has identified over one million acres of land that needs restoration, so planting a tree in memory of someone you love through their service is doing extra good.
The Comfort Company
The Comfort Company offers various memorial trees including a Japanese Red Maple, a Dogwood, a Northern Red Oak, a Colorado Blue Spruce, and more. These all range from 8 inches to 14 inches in height and are all between two and three years old. Each memorial tree is placed in a special box tied with a bow and wrapped in elegant tissue paper. The price of each memorial tree is $56.99 and the company offers different sympathy gifts you may be interested in as well.
Seeds of Life
Seeds of Life was founded with the intent of giving people the option to plant trees in celebration of something, including someone’s life. This company offers various memorial trees for your front yard such as magnolias, oaks, and roses that all blossom into a beautiful tree to honor a loved one. A customer favorite is the Memorial Sunshine Citrus Lemon Tree, which smells excellent and can be moved indoors depending on the season, meaning it looks great year-round. For most products, Seeds of Life offers three different options when you purchase a tree, including a seed package, a seedling, and a larger gift tree. Customer service is very helpful and promises to answer any inquiries within 24 hours.
Amazon
Not surprisingly, Amazon offers memorial trees as well as a huge variety of other memorial items. Prices are competitive and it’s easy to compare customer reviews of various companies all in one place.
A Living Tribute
Perhaps one of the most popular memorial tree companies is A Living Tribute. Based in Greenwich, Connecticut, this organization plants memorial trees in National Forests throughout the United States. Trees purchased through this organization are donated to reforestation of damaged areas and the vitality of our forests. If you purchase a tree as a gift, the recipient will get a special card to commemorate the planting. Trees start at $9.99 each, which is a great price for a great cause.
The Trees Remember
Also contributing to the rehabilitation of burned forests, The Trees Remember offers amazing gift packages that are created by hand. Not only does a tree get planted to aid the reforestation effort, but the gift package also includes a personal note card for you to write on and a metal charm. Cards are framed, and everything is made with recyclable materials and ships quickly. The company also takes custom orders, so if you have any special requests, you can reach out and ask if they can be accommodated. (This includes extra charms or cards.) One tree with the gift package costs $26, but you can buy additional trees for discounted prices (e.g., 20 trees cost $110). You can email info@thetreesremember.com with any questions.
The Gifted Tree
The Gifted Tree is another awesome option if you want to plant a memorial tree because unlike most companies, you can choose to have it planted in over 30 countries among 6 continents instead of somewhere random in the United States. The first step of the process is simple, as you choose from a seed card, a framed card, or a pop-up card with the tree’s information on it. You select your location from the many available ones, and then add a personalized message. That’s it! Prices start at $19.95, but you have many different options and add-ons at checkout.
Arbor Day Foundation
The Arbor Day Foundation offers memorial trees at just $2.00 each (with a 5-tree minimum). Trees can be planted in either the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, the Superior National Forest, or the Umpqua National Forest. Each of these has been impacted by natural disasters and reforestation is crucial to the longevity of the wildlife in the forests. Each purchase comes with a card that has a note stating who the honoree is, the name of the giver, the number of the tree, and so on. This is a great option for anyone looking to honor a memory by donating several trees at once at a low price.
Legacy.com
Legacy.com, the site that features obituaries and tributes for people who have passed away, also offers special gifts including memorial trees. A group of 10 trees costs $90 and the company states they provide oxygen for 40 people for a year. You can also choose a cluster of 50 trees for $165 or a cluster of 100 trees for $265. Custom orders are also accepted. Legacy.com has special arborists who plant these trees at the best time of year for them to thrive in the most in-need forests. Each gift comes with a personalized digital certificate, a guest book entry online, and a listing in a special memorial tree directory. Legacy.com also offers sympathy cards that you may want to add on to your purchase.
Jewish National Fund
For people with a strong Jewish faith or those who love the country of Israel, the Jewish National Fund offers a memorial tree planting service that plants trees in Israel. Starting at $18, you can choose from various “certificates,” many of which are created by Israeli artists, and the company now offers a wood frame or a wooden plaque as add-ons. The certificates each have a connection to a certain forest, so be sure to read the descriptions before purchasing the one you want.
1-800-Flowers
While normally thought of as a flower shop, 1-800-Flowers also offers a Magnolia Tree for Sympathy. This magnolia tree arrives at your loved one’s house ready to be planted immediately wherever he or she chooses to plant it. Instructions and a watering tool are also included. You can choose from small to large trees and the company also offers plaques that come with the tree to commemorate the lost loved one even more. Prices range from $59.99 to $134.99 and customer satisfaction for this product is exceptionally high.
Tree Givers
Tree Givers, also deemed the “Original Memorial Tree,” was founded in 1981 and has planted over 250,000 memorial trees throughout all 50 U.S. states and every province of Canada. Each tree purchased comes with a card that you can personalize, an official certificate of planting, and a sympathy letter. You can even choose to have the certificate framed if you would like. Prices start at $24.95, and the company provides plenty of add-on options.
One Tree Planted
Based in Vermont, One Tree Planted is another memorial tree planting organization that works in various places across the globe. Available in North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe, the nonprofit tree planting organization follows the motto “one dollar, one tree.” While you may have to create your own certificate of sorts because they don’t send you one, the low price and global presence is worth the donation. Volunteers throughout the world plant and monitor the trees year-round and make sure they contribute to continue reforestation efforts.
U.S. Forest Service
If you’d like to contribute directly to the U.S. Forest Service, you’re in luck. The agency offers its Plant-A-Tree program, which plants trees in National Forests and ensures they continue their quest for a healthy environment. While trees are not tracked with any sort of number, the suggested minimum donation amount is $10, which will plant approximately 10 trees. The Forest Services will send a certificate to you or the loved one you are buying the memorial trees for, and you are able to customize the note with various information.
American Forests
Last, but certainly not least, another memorial tree company people love is American Forests. The company plants one tree for every dollar with a minimum donation amount of $25. The trees get planted in threatened wildland to protect the plants and animals in the region. Each purchase comes with the option to send a specialized e-card to the recipients so they know they are in your thoughts and you have planted trees for their loved one that will last for decades.
