Trees as a Gift: A Meaningful, Traceable Way to Give

A tree is a meaningful gift because it lasts for decades, adds nothing to clutter, and quietly keeps giving back to the planet long after the moment has passed. The best versions are also personal and verifiable — the recipient gets something with their name on it, not a vague promise.

Why a planted tree stands out as a gift

• It lasts. Most gifts are used up or forgotten within weeks; a tree keeps growing for years, so the gesture outlives the occasion.
• It's clutter-free. Nothing to store, dust or throw away — a good fit for people who already have enough “stuff”.
• It's personal. A tree can be tied to a name, a date or a shared memory, which makes it feel considered rather than generic.
• It's planet-positive. Each tree absorbs CO₂ as it grows and supports local habitats, so the gift does real work in the background.
• It's affordable. Meaningful doesn't have to mean expensive — you can gift from £1.5 per tree.

Exactly what the recipient gets on Evertreen

When you gift a tree on Evertreen, the recipient receives a real, geolocated tree rather than an abstract pledge. Every tree comes with a GPS pin showing exactly where it was planted, plus progress photos and on-the-ground field videos from the planting team, so the gift stays traceable over time instead of vanishing after checkout.

A named certificate they can keep

Alongside the tree, Evertreen sends a personalised digital certificate with the recipient's name on it — a small keepsake that makes the gift feel addressed to them specifically. You can see how the gift certificates work and preview the format before you send, and you can browse the different trees available so the gift matches the region or species you have in mind. Because every planting is transparent and mapped, this isn't greenwashing — it's a specific tree the recipient can actually follow.

How many trees to give

There is no etiquette rulebook yet, so here is a sensible one. The number should match the weight of the occasion, not the size of your budget anxiety:

• A thank-you or a small gesture: one to five trees. The point is the thought and the traceability, not the volume.
• A birthday: a tree per year of age is a neat, memorable framing that scales naturally.
• A wedding, a new baby, a retirement: ten to fifty, often as a small named grove rather than a single tree.
• In memory of someone: whatever number carries meaning — a date, an age, a family count. The GPS pin matters more here than the quantity, because it gives people a real place.
• Corporate gifting: a few trees per client or employee, multiplied across the list. Small per person, substantial in total.

Making it land: three practical tips

1. Say why you chose it. A tree gift with no explanation can read as impersonal; one sentence about why it suits them turns it into the opposite.
2. Pair it if they like unwrapping things. Some people want an object in their hands. A small physical gift alongside the certificate solves that without losing the meaning.
3. Send the location, not just the certificate. The GPS pin is the part people actually open twice — it turns an abstraction into somewhere on a map.

Who it works for — and who it doesn't

Being honest about this makes the gift land better. A tree is an excellent gift for someone who values meaning over objects, who already has everything, who cares about the environment, or who is marking a milestone worth anchoring somewhere real. It is a weaker choice for a young child who wants something to play with, or for anyone who would read a certificate as a way of spending less. In those cases, pair it with something tangible rather than dropping the idea — the combination usually beats either half.

Occasions it suits and how fast it sends

Trees work for birthdays, weddings, new babies, thank-yous, retirements, in-memory gifts and end-of-year client appreciation — occasions where meaning matters more than packaging. Sending one takes a couple of minutes: choose the number of trees, add a name and message, and the certificate is delivered digitally, which makes it a genuine option even for last-minute gifting. On the personal side it's a thoughtful one-off; for businesses, Evertreen also offers API and Shopify integration so companies can gift trees at scale or bake tree-planting into their own checkout. Evertreen has been featured in 300+ media outlets, and you can size a corporate gesture using the free Evertreen CO₂ calculator before you commit.

For the mechanics of the certificate itself, see tree-planting gift certificates explained. For gifting at company scale, see corporate tree gifts for clients and employees.

Frequently asked questions

Can I gift a tree to someone as a present? Yes — you add the recipient's name and a message at checkout, and they receive a personalised certificate plus the GPS location and progress photos of their tree.

How much does it cost to gift a tree? You can gift from £1.5 per tree, so it scales from a single symbolic tree to a larger bundle for a bigger occasion.

Is a tree a good last-minute gift? It is — the certificate is delivered digitally within minutes of ordering, so there's no shipping delay and nothing can arrive late.

Does the recipient have to do anything? No. The tree is already planted and cared for by the local team; the recipient simply receives the certificate and can follow the tree's location and updates.

Can I choose where the tree is planted? You can choose from the available planting projects, which is what lets you match a gift to a region that means something to the recipient.

Is a tree gift suitable for someone who isn't especially "green"? Often yes, because the appeal is the permanence and the personal certificate rather than the politics. If in doubt, pair it with a small physical gift.

Can I gift trees to a whole team or client list? Yes — that is a standard corporate use, and the API and Shopify integration exist for gifting at volume.