Memorial Trees:
ashes that turn into trees
Your story is unique. With a Memorial Tree, you can choose a tree as distinctive and meaningful as your life.
A living memorial in a protected forest
A Memorial Tree is your own private tree in a protected forest where ashes can be returned to the earth.
- A natural alternative to burial or keeping ashes at home.
- A place where families can visit, remember, and find connection.
- A memorial that can be shared with family and pets over time.
Forever protected,
forever remembered
Eco-Friendly
Affordable, natural alternative to cemeteries
Forever Yours
Your private tree, protected in perpetuity
Multi-Generational
Share it with people and pets now & forever
Eco-friendly burial tree
Your Memorial Tree protects the forest
Your Memorial Tree does more than honor a life—it funds a Stewardship Trust, protecting the forest where your tree stands.
Permanent forest protection
Conserved in perpetuity, shielded from development
Wildlife habitat preservation
Protects homes for birds, pollinators, and mammals
Carbon sequestration
Mature trees absorb CO2, fighting climate change
Ecosystem resilience
Supports biodiversity for thriving forest ecosystems
Everything you need to create a living memorial
Choose your Memorial Tree
Return ashes to the earth at your Memorial Tree in a protected forest and rejoin the cycle of life.
Hold a Forest Memorial
A peaceful, personalized ceremony with family and friends to honor a loved one.
Add a Memorial Marker
Customize a Memorial Marker with a unique inscription for a personal and lasting tribute.
Share your Legacy
Add loved ones’ ashes to your Memorial Tree at any time, keep generations together forever.
Memorial Trees:
a natural alternative
Memorial Trees honor life differently than traditional burial, natural burial and green burial while offering practical advantages. They create something traditional memorials don’t: a living place that changes and grows with the seasons.
| Memorial Trees | Traditional Cemeteries | Holding Ashes | Scattering Ashes | Green Burial or Natural Burial | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Location |
Private tree in protected forest | Cemetery plot | Home storage |
Dispersed in nature (if permitted) | Natural burial ground |
| Honors |
Multiple people & pets at one tree | Individual plot | No | No individual designation | Individual plot |
| Legal Status |
All permissions included | Permitted with purchase | Not applicable | Often illegal without permits |
Permitted at certified sites (limited) |
| Setting |
Living, growing memorial | Maintained grounds | Kept at home | Limited legal sites | Natural landscape |
| Marker |
Customizable bronze marker | Tombstone | None | No individual designation | None |
| Visits |
Perpetual access rights | Fixed cemetery hours | Not applicable | Nothing to return to | Site-dependent |
| Maintenance |
Self-sustaining ecosystem | Required perpetual upkeep | None | None | Site-dependent stewardship |
| Feeling |
Alive, growing, changing | Static, formal | Waiting, temporary | Released but uncertain |
Returned but unmarked |
What’s the difference?
How do Memorial Trees differ from tree pod burial?
Memorial Trees use your cremated remains, which are mixed with enriched soil at the base of an existing, mature tree—allowing you to nourish and become part of that living tree as it continues to grow.
Tree Pod Burial is a natural burial practice where your body is interred in the ground within biodegradable material to promote natural decomposition, and a young sapling is planted above your burial site.
Memorial Trees
-
Mature, established trees
Your memorial is part of a healthy, thriving tree already decades old -
Widely available nationwide
Memorial Forest locations coast to coast -
Guaranteed longevity
Proven, healthy trees with strong root systems and established growth -
Immediate environmental impact
Your tree is already absorbing CO2 and supporting ecosystems today
Tree Pod Burial
-
Vulnerable saplings
Newly planted young trees require years of care to survive -
Extremely limited availability
Very few burial sites offer this option -
High failure risk
Saplings can die from disease, weather, pests, or lack of maintenance -
Delayed environmental impact
Takes years before a young tree provides meaningful environmental benefits
Make a Memorial Tree
your living legacy
Everyone deserves a meaningful plan. Choose a Memorial Tree—a place where your story lives on and loved ones find peace.
Immediate Need
Choose a natural cemetery alternative online, right from your loved one’s side.
Holding Ashes
Give ashes a final resting place in nature and find peace in letting go.
Find your perfect Memorial Tree
Honor a life in a place of natural beauty. Choose from 9 protected forests, each with its own character and beauty. Select from over 20 native tree species from Coastal Redwoods to Quaking Aspens—protected forever, accessible always.
West Coast
Southwest & Midwest
Northeast
A Memorial Tree
for every family
Available in nine protected forests from coast to coast.
Keepsake Tree
Starting at
$5,900
$122/month
- The Right to Spread Ashes for 1 Person
- Trunk Diameter Varies by Forest
- Small and Mighty
Choose your forest above
for more details.
Legacy Tree
Starting at
$7,900
$164/month
- The Right to Spread Ashes for 1 Person
- Trunk Diameter Varies by Forest
- Most Popular
Choose your forest above
for more details.
Monument Tree
Starting at
$11,900
$274/month
- The Right to Spread Ashes for 1 Person
- Trunk Diameter Varies by Forest
- Family Favorite
Choose your forest above
for more details.
Landmark Tree
Starting at
$16,900
$351/month
- The Right to Spread Ashes for 1 Person
-
Trunk Diameter
Varies by Forest - Largest 1% of the Forest
Choose your forest above
for more details.
Articles & Tools
The resources you need, when you need them most
Trusted by thousands of families
Thousands of families trust us for compassionate cremations services and nature-connected memorials without funeral home pressure.
“Cemeteries are about death; our Memorial Tree is about life. Placing our four dogs’ ashes there didn’t feel like an ending—we set them free.”
Robert A. | Yosemite Gateway Memorial Forest, CA
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions?
What is a Memorial Tree?
A Memorial Tree is a private tree in a protected forest where ashes are returned to the earth. It’s a natural, lasting alternative to burial.
How do families choose a tree?
You can explore trees and locations on a virtual tour with a Guide, who will help you find the right fit.
Can more than one person be included?
Yes. Some trees are for individuals, others can be shared by couples, families, or include pets—now or in the future.
Can pets be included?
Yes. Some trees are for individuals, others can be shared by couples, families, or include pets—now or in the future.
Are Memorial Trees available in every forest?
Yes. All of our nine protected forest locations have Memorial Trees available.
How much does a Memorial Tree burial typically cost compared to traditional burial methods?
Memorial tree burial offers a meaningful and affordable alternative, starting at $5,900. In comparison, traditional burials typically range from $9,000 to $15,000, with costs varying based on casket selection, vault requirements, and viewing preferences.
What’s the difference between a Memorial Tree and a Spreading Grove?
A Memorial Tree is a dedicated tree within a protected forest that can be shared with family, friends, and pets over time. Memorial Trees also include guide-led Nature Memorials and full customizable Memorial Markers.
A Spreading Grove allows you to spread ashes of just one person in a shared grove within a protected memorial forest—it’s included in your Everis package. Unlike a Memorial Tree you can not pick where the ashes will be placed. Spreading Groves also include a self-led Nature Memorial and simple Memorial Marker.
Can families visit the tree?
Absolutely. Your Memorial Tree is a place to gather. Family, friends, and pets are welcome to visit and remember your loved one, walk peaceful trails, or simply spend time in nature.
What if I already have ashes—can they be placed at a Memorial Tree?
Yes. You can explore trees and locations on a virtual tour with a Guide, who will help you find the right fit. You also have the option of holding a Nature Memorial ceremony and commemorating your loved one with a Memorial Marker at the tree in their honor.
Still have questions?
Let’s plan your
next chapter
Instead of planning an ending, think of
a Memorial Tree as your new beginning.