Gift a tree in a loved one's name: the original charity gift

Every year, some Christmas presents end up resold online in the first days of January. A tree can't be resold. It grows, sometimes feeds a family, and stays standing for decades after the wrapping paper is gone.

Gifting a tree in a loved one's name has become one of the most sought-after charity gift ideas. The idea is simple, it speaks to every age, and it spares you adding yet another object to someone's cupboard.

But you still need to know where to plant, how much to budget and how to present the gift so it is truly appreciated.

How does gifting a tree work?

You pay an organisation to plant one or more trees. In return, you receive a certificate in the name of the person you wish to honour, to print or send by email.

The tree is then planted in the field by the organisation or its partners, usually during the rainy season in the country concerned. So it won't necessarily go into the ground that very day: what matters is that it is genuinely planted and looked after.

What the person you honour receives

Depending on the organisation, the gift takes the form of a named certificate, a personalised card with your message, and sometimes updates on the project over the months. Some companies even offer to geolocate the tree.

What occasions suit a gifted tree?

A tree has the rare power of being a universal symbol: it stands for growth, endurance and passing things on. That makes it fitting for almost every stage of life.

A birth. Planting a tree that grows up alongside the child is an age-old tradition, kept alive by many families.

A wedding. A small forest funded by the guests makes a wonderful alternative to a traditional gift list.

A birthday. One tree for every year of life makes an original present for milestone birthdays.

Christmas and the festive season. This is when demand soars. Our selection of charity gift ideas for Christmas offers more in the same spirit.

A tribute. Gifting a tree in memory of someone who has died is a comforting gesture for loved ones, leaving a living legacy.

A corporate gift. Clients, colleagues or partners receive a gesture that reflects the company's commitments.

A gesture of deep spiritual meaning

For many Muslim families, planting a tree in a loved one's name belongs to the tradition of Sadaqa Jariya, ongoing charity. According to a hadith reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim, any tree planted from which a person, a bird or an animal benefits is counted as charity for the one who planted it.

Gifting a tree in the name of a parent who has passed away then takes on a special meaning: a good deed that lives on after them.

Buying a tree or making a donation: what's the difference?

This is the point most guides overlook. Behind the same promise, "gift a tree", lie two very different models.

Buying from a company. Some firms sell trees planted in managed forests, often in France. The recipient sometimes becomes the owner, and the tree may be felled and sold after a few years or decades. In that case it is a financial product, with a risk of capital loss. Others sell plantings from 3 euros per tree, without ownership.

Donating to an NGO. You fund a non-profit planting project, usually in countries where trees meet vital needs: feeding people, protecting soil, holding water. The donation qualifies for French tax relief.

Where does the tree you gift with LIFE go?

Through the Sapousse programme, launched in 2016, LIFE plants so-called "economic" trees: mango, cinnamon, coffee, moringa, mangrove and bamboo. They are entrusted to families who harvest fruit, spices or materials from them, so they have every reason to care for them.

More than 250,000 trees have already been planted in Senegal, Mali, Benin, Morocco, Madagascar, Lebanon, Bangladesh and Indonesia. Kanto, in Madagascar, describes how the replanted mangrove now better protects her village from the sea, while also allowing her to become a shrimp farmer.

So your loved one receives more than a symbol: they become linked to a planting that transforms a family's daily life.

How much does a gifted tree cost, and what does it really cost you?

At LIFE, pricing is simple: 2 euros for one tree, 30 euros for a bouquet of 15 trees. For those who want to give a lasting commitment, Planète sponsorship starts at 15 euros a month.

As it is a donation, you benefit from 66% French tax relief if you pay tax in France.

How to gift a tree in a loved one's name, step by step

Choose the number of trees. A single tree for a symbolic gesture, a bouquet of 15 for a proper present, more for a wedding or a group gift.

Enter the name of the person you're honouring. It will appear on the planting certificate.

Add a message. A few words on why you chose this gift make it far more memorable.

Present the certificate. Printed in a card, tucked under the tree or emailed on the big day.

Share what happens next. Passing on news of the project a few months later makes the gift last.

If you're still weighing up different ways to help the planet, our guide to eco-friendly giving and 5 ways to support the environment through an NGO compares the options.