Plant a tree in memory
Create a living tribute with a Memorial Tree.
A living memorial you can return to
Better Place gives you everything planting a sapling can’t: your own mature Memorial Tree in a protected forest—with a ceremony, a marker, and a place your family can always return to.
Return ashes to the earth at your tree in a protected forest.
A peaceful, personalized ceremony to honor a loved one.
Customize a marker with a unique inscription.
Add loved ones’ ashes to your tree, keep generations together.
We handle the details
At Better Place end-of-life planning isn’t only personal—it’s ecological. From first call to a resting place in nature, we handle everything.
We offset cremation’s impact through climate action.
Interactive, digital tribute; share stories and photos.
Death certificates, permits and filing handled for you.
We provide resources to help you navigate after-loss.
Real guides available day or night to answer your questions.
A natural resting place in a protected Memorial Forest.
Plant a tree in memory that will last
Planting a tree in memory for someone you love is a beautiful idea, but raises hard questions. Where can you plant it? Who will care for it? Will it survive? What happens if you move?
Unfortunately, most newly planted trees do not survive beyond one to two years.
There’s a better way.
Compare your options
Memorial Tree vs. planting a tree yourself
 |
 |
 |
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| Better Place Memorial Tree | DIY Planting | Reforestation Donation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tree | Mature tree that’s healthy and established in a thriving ecosystem | Young sapling purchased and planted yourself | Funding a planting on your behalf, not a specific tree |
| Maintenance | Professional stewardship | Your responsibility | Handled by organization |
| Access | Irrevocable access rights | No guaranteed access | No tree to return to |
| Resting place | Legal resting place for ashes for multiple people & pets | Require permits, permissions | Not available |
| Survival | Established, thriving tree, not a new planting; nothing left to chance | 50% or more of newly planted trees don’t survive due to stress and transplant shock1 | ~50% of trees do not survive due to site conditions, weather and followup care2 |
| Cost | Starts at $6,200 | $25–$180 | $60–$210 |
A better way forward
A Memorial Tree is a private, mature tree in a protected Memorial Forest. When a loved one passes, their ashes are returned to the earth at the base of their tree. The tree grows. The forest thrives. Families can visit for generations.
Return to nature,
make it beautiful
After cremation, families need a place to remember. With Better Place, ashes find a permanent home in a protected Memorial Forest—not on a mantle, not scattered without a place to return.
Honor your loved one with a tree in a protected forest—a meaningful place to visit and remember for generations to come.
Two ways to create a living memorial
Memorial Tree
- Multiple people & pets at one tree
- You choose tree & location
- Add a personalized Guide-led ceremony
- Add customized Memorial Marker
Your tree. Your forest. Your choices.
Starting at $6,200 • View Pricing
Bundle with cremation • Save $1,000
Spreading Grove
- Honors one life in a shared grove
- Location chosen for you
- Simple self-led memorial ceremony
- Includes small, simple marker
A grove. A forest. A place to rest.
Starting at $2,250 • View Pricing
Bundle with cremation • Save $1,000
CUSTOMER REVIEWS
What families say
"Picking out a mature tree, a symbol of family and strength, felt right. My parent's tree is more than a place to visit, it's a symbolic reminder of our connection."
Read our Google Reviews
Find your perfect Memorial Tree
Our protected forests span America—from the redwoods of the Mendocino Coast to the ridgetops of the Berkshires. Some of the most beautiful, biodiverse places in the country.
Talk to a Guide, 24/7
When you’re ready, we’re here.
Explore at your own pace
See the two ways families honor a life.
Questions?
We're here to help.
What kind of tree should be planted in memory of someone?
There’s no single “right” tree. The best choice depends on climate, soil, and symbolism. Oaks are often chosen for strength and longevity, maples for change and family, and evergreens like redwoods or pines for permanence through the seasons. If you’re planting yourself, match the species to your actual growing conditions, not just its meaning, since a tree unsuited to its site is far less likely to survive.
With a Memorial Tree at Better Place, you can skip planting altogether. Start by choosing your forest location, then select from mature, native species already thriving in that forest’s ecosystem. There’s no guessing whether a species or a site is the right fit.
Is planting a Memorial Tree legit
Yes. Planting a tree in someone’s memory is a widely recognized and meaningful practice, whether it’s a sapling in your own yard, a gift-tree program, or a Memorial Forest. What varies is how lasting the memorial is. A self-planted tree depends on land you may not control forever, and on care that has to continue for years—roughly 50% of newly planted trees don’t survive that long.*
A Better Place Memorial Tree is a legitimate, permanent memorial in a legally protected forest, with a marker, a ceremony, and guaranteed access for generations.
How much does a Memorial Tree cost?
It depends on the kind of memorial you want. Gift-style memorial trees, a sapling planted in someone’s name through a nonprofit or online program, typically cost $60 to $210, and they’re a meaningful, low-cost way to honor someone.
A Better Place Memorial Tree costs more because it includes more: a mature, private tree in a protected forest, a legal resting place for ashes for multiple people and pets, professional stewardship, and guaranteed access for generations, starting at $6,200. Both are legitimate ways to remember someone. The right one depends on whether you want a symbolic gesture or a permanent, visitable place to return to.