The 14 Best Trees as Gifts for Any Occasion
Whether you’re shopping for a seasoned gardener or someone who wants the warmth of greenery without the upkeep, trees as gifts can be given to anyone for just about any occasion.
Photo: amazon.com
Trees as gifts may not seem like an obvious choice when you’re shopping for someone you care about. However, a little greenery goes a long way. Live trees can provide a number of benefits to their owners, from producing fruit that can be eaten to purifying the air inside the home. Or, 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 as gifts can be given year-round, and if the recipient doesn’t have the space or time to maintain a tree, you can choose to plant one in their honor instead. Plus, there are several organizations that help sustain struggling regions of the world by planting trees in the names of the people of your choosing.
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:
- What kind of lifestyle does the recipient lead? If they travel often or have a house full of young kids, a faux tree may be a better option than one that could be neglected or destroyed more easily.
- 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.
- 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
Photo: alivingtribute.org
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 it, 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.
Photo: uncommongoods.com
Reforesting Tree Kits
The world could use more trees, and Reforesting Tree Kits aim to make that possible by planting new trees and contributing to reforestation efforts. This kit comes with seeds, a biodegradable pot, a coco grow medium, and instructions to ensure the planting process is successful. The biodegradable pot is made with upcycled cow manure and helps provide nutrients to soil that is suffering. Bonus: Each kit sold results in a cash contribution to reforestation initiatives to make sure our planet is taken care of. $10 from Uncommon Goods.
Photo: walmart.com
Christmas Tree (Balsam Fir) | Seed Grow Kit
A top-rated stocking stuffer or party favor, the Christmas Tree (Balsam Fir) | 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 to make a Christmas tree come to life. 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.
Photo: amazon.com
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. $14.99 on Amazon.
Photo: onetreeplanted.org
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 allow 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.
Gifts $25 to $50
Photo: amazon.com
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 a weekly watering. At about 16 inches tall, the plant can be put on the floor or on a side table as a beautiful, lively bit of decor. The tree also comes with a white ceramic planter that measures 5 inches in diameter. $27.23 on Amazon.
Photo: littlesaps.com
The Potential For Greatness Lies Within
We can all benefit from a kind word from time to time, and 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 sweet message, this tree comes with a sweet surprise in the form of a beautiful note. Each seedling can be replanted or kept in the container as it grows, and it comes with a lifespan of 100 to 200 years. Starting at $30 from Little Saps.
Photo: amazon.com
AMERICAN PLANT EXCHANGE Dracaena Massangeana
For your loved ones who are new to gardening or planting, the AMERICAN PLANT EXCHANGE Dracaena Massangeana is an excellent gift option since it’s easy to care for and thrives on neglect. This tree produces long, green leaves that have a strip of yellow down the middle. It’s an excellent indoor option that can be placed in the living room, kitchen, bedroom, or home office as it requires minimal watering and care. Plus, it helps to purify the air inside and helps raise the humidity in rooms. $32.58 on Amazon.
Gifts $50 to $100
Photo: amazon.com
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. It makes a great plant for use on a patio or inside, and it can produce up to 50 pounds of the exotic fruit each year. Recipients simply need to give this tree a good unpacking and watering once it arrives, and it will soon be ready to bloom. Starting at $79.99 on Amazon.
Photo: amazon.com
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 silk to look as real as possible. $80.99 on Amazon.
Photo: brighterblooms.com
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 tree blooms year-round and can be used indoors or outdoors in milder climates where full sun is available. $99.99 from Brighter Blooms.
Photo: amazon.com
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 that sprouts into several realistic branches that hold silk leaves that can be wiped clean with a soft, dry cloth. It’s an excellent gift option for homeowners with tall ceilings and space to fill with a little greenery that requires absolutely no maintenance. $102.11 on Amazon.
Photo: amazon.com
Brighter Blooms – Meyer Lemon Tree
Friends or family members who like to whip up flavorful drinks or treats can benefit from the Brighter Blooms Meyer Lemon Tree. The tree arrives at a 3- to 4-foot-tall size until it grows and matures into its full size. It can be grown inside near a window or outside on a patio or back deck. Users who live in colder climates will just need to bring the tree indoors when the temperature drops. A cross between a mandarin orange and a lemon, the fruit produced by this specific type of tree is self-pollinating and can provide a large bounty each year. $119.99 on Amazon.
Photo: bloomscape.com
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.
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 around the holidays, 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, too—so if you’re shopping for the holiday season, it’s best to narrow down your options 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 can make finding deals easy. After it is installed, Honey will automatically apply any available discounts or promo codes to items you’ve saved in your cart. Its savvy Droplist feature will also notify you when an item you’ve been eyeing goes down in price.
