The 21 Best Trees as Gifts of 2023

Looking for a gift with a lasting impact that is appreciated long after it’s been unwrapped? Live trees are beautiful presents that can provide several benefits, from producing edible fruit to purifying the air – either inside or outside. If the person you’re buying for has no green thumb, you can choose from a variety of faux trees that look almost as lifelike as the real thing.

Trees are gifts that can be given at any time. If the recipient doesn’t have the space or time to maintain a tree, you can choose to plant one in their honor instead. Several organizations help sustain struggling regions of the world by planting trees in the names of people you care about.

How to Choose the Best Trees as Gifts

Before you begin shopping for your friends, family, coworkers, or acquaintances, it could be helpful to ask yourself a few questions to make sure you choose the best trees as gifts. Consider the following:

1. What kind of lifestyle does the recipient lead? If they travel often or have a house full of young kids or pets, a faux tree may be a better option than one that could be neglected or easily destroyed.
2. What are their hobbies? If they like to cook or bake, a tree that produces lemons or oranges may be a better selection for them than one that only has greenery.
3. What is your budget? The size and variety of tree will determine how much it costs, so it’s better to have a figure in mind before you begin the hunt for the perfect tree.

The Best Trees as Gifts

From self-pollinating lemon trees to Christmas tree kits to faux varieties, trees as gifts provide long-lasting benefits to a wide variety of recipients.

Gifts Under $25

1. GIFT THAT GIVES BACK: Tree Planting in a US National Forest

Whether you want to memorialize someone you care about or celebrate a special occasion, a Tree Planting in a US National Forest is an excellent way to give a gift while also giving back to the environment. With this gift, new trees will be planted in a forest or park that needs them, and those new trees will help provide clean drinking water and wildlife habitats for the areas they’re placed in. If the person you’re shopping for is a national park lover, this gift is the perfect way to honor what they’re most passionate about. $9.99 from A Living Tribute. 

2. SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION: One tree becomes two trees

The world could use more trees. Plant a Tree Kits aims to make that possible by planting new trees and contributing to reforestation efforts. This kit comes with seeds, perlite, a soil-less growing medium, a mini-greenhouse for successful germination, and easy-to-follow instructions. This non-profit offers a wide range of sizes, from Japanese Maple bonsais to giant sequoias. Bonus: For each kit purchased, the company will plant another tree. $10 from One Tree Planted.

3. FESTIVE FIR: Christmas Tree (Balsam Fir) | Seed Grow Kit

A top-rated stocking stuffer or party favor, the Christmas Tree Seed Grow Kit produces a living Christmas tree to make the holidays even more fun. The kit comes with all the essentials needed to grow the tree, including seeds, a mini greenhouse, a growing medium, and detailed instructions for starting your own Christmas tree. The resulting Balsam Fir will come with its signature spicy scent, pyramidal form, and lush color to bring the holidays indoors, whether it’s Christmas or not. $10.99 from Walmart. 

4. FOR THE DIYER: Bonsai Starter Kit

Green thumb or not, the Bonsai Starter Kit makes it easy for just about anyone to grow four bountiful bonsai trees in no time. The kit comes with four types of seeds, four biodegradable growing pots, an expanding soil disc, bamboo plant markers, a bonsai clipper, and an instruction booklet that’s easy to follow. It’s a gift that can be given for any occasion. All four trees can be grown indoors or outdoors year-round without extreme sunlight or watering. It’s an educational activity for families or for singles who want to watch the trees come to life. $19.99 on Amazon. 

5. THOUGHTFUL GESTURE: Gift Trees

If the person you’re shopping for doesn’t have room for a live tree or even a faux one, you can show them you’re thinking of them with Gift Trees. Gift Trees from One Tree Planted allows you to plant a tree in your loved one’s name and notify them with a simple message via e-card. Each dollar spent amounts to a single tree planted, so a gift of $20 results in 20 trees taking root to help rebuild the habitats of suffering regions across the world. $20 from One Tree Planted. 

6. MEMORIAL TREES: Trees Planted in Their Honor

What better way to remember a lost loved one or cherished pet than to plant a tree in their memory? A tree dedication gift can commemorate the life of someone who made a significant impact on your life. Tree-planting organizations will do the planting under the supervision of the Forest Service and you or the gift recipient will receive a personalized card acknowledging your gift. Every 1,000 seedlings planted restores four acres of forest, creating critical wildlife habitat. $9.99 from A Living Tribute.

Gifts $25 to $50

7. FOR GOOD LUCK: Costa Farms Money Tree Pachira

Said to bring prosperity and good luck to its owners, the Costa Farms Money Tree Pachira is an easy-to-care-for plant that looks great in a small or medium-size room. This tree grows best near a window that gets partial sun and can get by with weekly watering. At about 16 inches tall, the plant can be put on the floor, shelf, plant stand, or a side table as a beautiful piece of living decor. The tree also comes with a white ceramic planter that measures 5 inches in diameter. $33.99 on Amazon. 

8. MEANINGFUL MESSAGE: The Potential For Greatness Lies Within

We can all benefit from a kind word from time to time. The Potential For Greatness Lies Within message from Little Saps helps encourage its recipient with an inspirational message. Whether you’re looking for something to brighten the day of someone who’s struggling or just wanting to send a kind message, this tree comes with a sweet surprise in the form of an encouraging note. Each seedling can be replanted or kept in the container as it grows. They come with a lifespan of 100 to 200 years. Starting at $35 from Little Saps. 

9. MOST LOW-MAINTENANCE: AMERICAN PLANT EXCHANGE Dracaena Massangeana

For your loved ones who are new to gardening or planting, this Dracaena Massangeana is an excellent gift option since it’s easy to care for. This tree produces long, green leaves that have a strip of yellow down the middle, reminiscent of a cornstalk. It’s an excellent indoor option that can be placed in the living room, kitchen, bedroom, or home office as it thrives in fluorescent and indirect light. Plus, it helps to purify the air inside and helps raise the humidity in rooms. $45.18 on Amazon. 

10. CUP O’ JOE: Grow Your Own Coffee

What could be a better gift for the coffee-drinking plant lover on your gift list than their coffee tree? These attractive tropical trees feature shiny dark green leaves and white, star-shaped blooms as fragrant as jasmine that will produce coffee beans in 3-4 years that you can grind and roast for your own special brew. Trees reach a manageable 2-3 feet tall but can be trimmed for a shorter, bushier plant. Get a second plant in this shipping for your second cup! $29.99 from JM Bamboo.

11. NOT JUST FOR RAINY DAYS: Umbrella Plant

The miniature Schefflera Arboricola tree is a fast-growing house plant that’s easy to maintain as long as it gets plenty of indirect light. Stems are grown on multiple stalks and end in a fan of glossy one- to two-inch leaves, either green or variegated. Because it seldom grows taller than 6 feet, it’s a well-behaved tree for indoors. It can be pruned to manage size or spread and its cuttings are easily propagated. $38.40 on Etsy.

Gifts $50 to $100

12. GARDEN TO TABLE: Brighter Blooms – Cold Hardy Avocado Tree

You can give the avocado lover in your life the gift of fresh avocados for life with the Brighter Blooms Cold Hardy Avocado Tree. Although these trees typically prefer tropical weather, this specific cold hardy variety can tolerate temperatures as low as 20 degrees Fahrenheit in USDA zones 8 through 11. In some climates, it may need to winter indoors. (Note: no shipping to Arizona.) Once mature, the Hass Avocado tree can produce up to 50 pounds of tropical fruit each year. Recipients simply need to give this tree a good unpacking and watering once it arrives. Starting at $69.99 on Amazon. 

13. ETERNALLY GREEN: Nearly Natural 6ft. Ficus Artificial Trees

For those who can’t seem to keep a plant alive, the Nearly Natural 6-foot Ficus Artificial Tree is a lifelike option that looks full and fresh day after day. It measures 6 feet tall and looks beautiful in a home office, entryway, or other main living space. The tree comes with more than 1,000 individual leaves and a non-nursery pot so you can pair it with the planter of your choice. The leaves are made of premium materials to look as real as possible. Bendable branches and stems allow you to shape it to suit your space. $65.18 on Amazon. 

14. FRAGRANT FRUIT: Calamondin Orange Tree

One of the more popular decorative trees, the Calamondin Orange Tree produces fragrant white blooms along with tiny oranges in just a few seasons. The 3- to 4-foot tree makes oranges that are more of a cross between a tangerine and a kumquat and are traditionally used in baked dishes. This evergreen tree blooms year-round and can be used indoors or outdoors in milder climates where full sun is available. Starting at $79.99 from Brighter Blooms. 

15. TOWERING BEAUTY: Nearly Natural 82″ Olive Artificial Silk Trees

The Nearly Natural 82″ Olive Artificial Silk Tree helps create a tropical paradise inside the home without the mess of falling leaves or other debris. This faux olive tree comes with a single trunk made from real wood that sprouts into several realistic branches that hold 800 leaves. To keep it looking fresh and real, dust it monthly with a feather duster. It even features faux olives! It’s an excellent gift option for homeowners with tall ceilings and space to fill with a little greenery that requires absolutely no maintenance. $78.99 on Amazon. 

16. RIO RED: Dwarf Grapefruit Tree

How satisfying is it to pluck a delicious grapefruit from your tree for breakfast? This red-fleshed hybrid is sweeter than the typical grapefruit, but, despite growing on a dwarf tree, is as big as standard-size grapefruit. The tree features a rounded canopy, smooth gray bark, glossy dark green leaves, and white, fragrant flowers that bloom in spring, turning into fruit by winter. $54.95 from Yarden.

17. SPACIOUS STUNNER: Monstera makes a big impression

For the experienced gardener who has everything – including lots of space – the rare Thai Monstera is an intriguing addition to their collection. Large, fenestrated, and variegate leaves provide a visual punch. Aerial leaves attach to a moss pole, providing support for the plant to keep it growing upright rather than spreading. When mature, the plant may produce cones, which are edible after about a year of growing. $99.95 at Logee’s.

Gifts $100 to $250

18. CITRUS TREAT: Brighter Blooms – Meyer Lemon Tree

Friends or family members who enjoy flavorful drinks or treats can benefit from the Brighter Blooms Meyer Lemon Tree. The tree arrives at a 3- to 4-foot-tall size. It won’t produce fruit for a year or two when it matures into its full size. It can be grown inside near a window or outside on a patio or back deck during the summer or in warmer climates. Users who live in colder climates must bring the tree indoors when the temperature drops. A cross between a mandarin orange and a lemon, the fruit produced by the Meyer lemon tree is self-pollinating and can provide a large bounty each year. Note: no shipping to FL, CA, TX, LA, OR, AL, or AZ. $119.98 on Amazon. 

19. SPUNKY SAPLING: Dracaena Marginata Open Weave

Trees as gifts may seem out of the ordinary, but this Dracaena Marginata Open Weave variety can not only warm up a space but also eliminate harmful elements in the air. The no-fuss Madagascar Dragon Tree needs low-to-bright indirect light and can measure up to 58 inches tall. It removes formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene from the air and comes in a round pot in a variety of colors, including stone, clay, charcoal, slate, and indigo. $199 from Bloomscape. 

20. KNOCK-OUT BEAUTY: Knock-Out Rose Tree

A rose by any other name is a rose, but a grafted Knock-Out rose will provide a tree full of petals from spring through fall, with little care required. Known for being disease- and pest-free, the Knock Out rose is now available in standard form for maximum impact in your yard. Forget about mildew and black spots, common rose problems. Just plant and enjoy. You don’t even need to dead-head spent blooms. $129.95 from Fast Growing Trees.

21. PRETEND PANDA’S PREFERENCE: Lifelike Eucalyptus Tree

This versatile eucalyptus tree can be constructed in three different sizes, with removable trunk sections and branches, so you can either mimic the growth of a real tree or move the tree to different-sized-spaces as the mood and moment suits. Made, in part, of recycled materials, this tree can go from table-top to 5 feet tall – perfect for your stuffed panda bear. $111.75 from GrandinRoad.

How to Get the Best Deals on Trees as Gifts

The best trees as gifts can be found year-round, but they’re even more likely to appear around holidays. The sooner you start shopping at holiday time, the more likely you are to find deals on higher-priced varieties or faux tree options. Popular seasonal trees tend to sell out fast around Christmas, so if you’re shopping for the holiday season, it’s best to narrow down your choices and purchase a gift as soon as you can.

If you don’t plan to purchase a gift around the holidays or don’t have time to schedule around sales, browser extensions like Honey or Bing can make finding deals easy. Both will automatically search for and apply any available discounts or promo codes to items you’ve saved in your cart. Honey’s savvy Droplist feature will also notify you when an item you’ve been eyeing goes down in price.

Prices listed here were accurate at the time of publication on [TK date].