A private Memorial Tree from Better Place starts at $6,200. That price isn’t for a symbolic planting or a small donation—it reflects a dedicated memorial experience built around one living tree, in a protected forest, that a family can return to for generations.
If you’re considering a Memorial Tree, the real question usually isn’t just “what does it cost,” but “what am I actually choosing, and how do I choose well.” This guide walks through what shapes the price, and how to think about species, size, and location so the memorial you create feels right for the person you’re honoring.
What’s included in a Memorial Tree?
A Better Place Memorial Tree is more than a tree in the ground. Starting at $6,200, a Better Place Memorial Tree includes:
- A dedicated, personally-selected mature living tree in a protected Memorial Forest
- A legal ash spreading experience that includes required permits and paperwork
- Irrevocable access rights to visit your tree and the forest
- The option to add multiple people and pets to your tree at any time
- The option to add a Nature Memorial Ceremony
- The option to add a customizable Memorial Marker
- Ongoing stewardship of the forest and the tree itself
What affects the price
Every Memorial Tree starts from the same baseline, but a few factors can move the price from there:
Forest location
Different protected Memorial Forests vary in native species availability, land characteristics, and demand. Demand in our Santa Cruz Memorial Forest, for example, is extremely high—so trees there start at $9,900.
Tree species
Availability and maturation time vary by species within a given forest, which can affect price. Coast redwoods, for instance, often skew higher than the base price given their majestic size and limited availability.
Tree size and age
Choosing a more established tree, rather than a younger one, typically increases the cost, since you’re selecting a tree further along in its life. A small and mighty keepsake tree starts at $6,200, while the largest 1% of trees in a forest start at $18,200.
Personalization
Adding a Nature Memorial Ceremony, a Memorial Marker, an inscription, or additional documentation can affect the total price beyond the $6,200 starting point.
How to choose the right Memorial Forest
The first step in choosing a Memorial Tree is selecting your Memorial Forest location. Better Place offers nine Memorial Forests, coast to coast, each with its own character and beauty.
Our forests are protected lands, carefully chosen for their ecological value, their beauty, and their importance to the communities around them. When we protect a forest, we protect everything in it — that’s the commitment behind everything we do.
How to choose the right tree species
The species you choose is often the most personal part of the decision. Some families choose a tree that reminds them of their loved one—a favorite tree from childhood, a species native to a meaningful place, or simply one they find beautiful.
Every Better Place Memorial Tree is a mature, established tree, native to its specific forest. Because our forests are professionally maintained, you can rest assured that your tree is healthy and thriving.
A few questions worth asking:
- Did your loved one have a favorite tree?
- Does a specific tree’s character or personality feel right for them?
- Are you drawn to a single-trunk tree or a multi-trunk tree?
How to choose the right size
Size is about more than aesthetics—it shapes the experience of visiting the tree, both now and for years to come.
- A younger tree connects your family to its growth over time. Visiting becomes part of watching it mature.
- A more established tree offers a fuller, more immediate presence. This can feel meaningful for families who want the memorial to hold significance from the very first visit, or who need a tree large enough to hold the ashes of multiple people or pets.
There’s no right answer here—it depends on whether your family wants to experience the tree’s growth as part of the memorial, or prefers a mature, grounded presence from day one. Either way, every visit lets you experience the tree changing with the seasons.
How to choose the right location
Location within a specific Memorial Forest is often the most emotional part of the decision, since it determines exactly where your family will return.
Consider:
Seclusion or accessibility
Do you picture a quiet, secluded spot away from foot traffic, or a location that’s easy to reach and revisit often?
Physical access
How will your family actually get to the tree—a short walk from parking, or a walk along a trail or path?
Terrain and setting
What kind of landscape feels right—a ridge with a view, an open meadow, or a spot near a creek or lake?
Because forests and availability vary, the best way to choose is to talk through your priorities with a Better Place guide, who can point you toward forests and specific trees that fit what your family is looking for.
Questions to ask before you decide
Before committing to a Memorial Tree, it can help to ask:
- What exactly is included at this price?
- Where exactly will the tree be, and can my family visit it?
- What documentation will we receive?
- What tree species and sizes are available at this location?
- What can be personalized: a marker, an inscription, a message?
- What happens if our plans or circumstances change?
A good guide should be able to answer these clearly and without pressure. The goal isn’t to find the lowest price—it’s to find the tree, size, and forest that feel true to the person you’re remembering.
FAQS
What’s included in the price of a Memorial Tree?
A Memorial Tree includes a dedicated, personally selected mature tree in a protected Memorial Forest, a legal ash-spreading experience with required permits, irrevocable access rights to visit, and ongoing stewardship of the tree and forest. Personalization like a Memorial Marker or Nature Memorial Ceremony can be added for an additional cost.
Can multiple people or pets be memorialized at one tree?
Yes. Families can add multiple people and pets to the same Memorial Tree at any time, which can also be a factor in choosing a larger tree size.
Can my family visit the tree whenever we want?
Yes. Every Memorial Tree includes irrevocable access rights, so your family can return to visit at any time.
Is $6,200 a one-time cost, or are there ongoing fees?
The starting price of $6,200 covers the dedicated tree, forest access, and stewardship — there are no ongoing membership or maintenance fees. Optional add-ons like a Memorial Marker or ceremony are priced separately.
What’s the difference between a small and large Memorial Tree?
Smaller “keepsake” trees start at $6,200, while more established, mature trees — including the largest 1% of trees in a forest—start at $18,200.
Explore Memorial Trees and current pricing
Every family’s memorial looks a little different. Explore Memorial Trees to see current forest locations, available species and sizes, and pricing starting at $6,200. Start Here
