Plant a tree in someone's name: a practical guide

Yes, you can plant a tree in someone’s name without travelling. You choose a fruit tree, give the person’s name, and the tree is planted in Uganda by local teams. A sign bearing that name is placed next to the tree, and you then receive real photos and videos of the planting. The person can be living or deceased.

This guide answers the practical questions people ask before doing it: for whom, how the name is used, and what happens between the order and the images.

Who can you dedicate a tree to?

Almost anyone who matters to you. When you order, you simply say who the intention is for. The most common cases:

• yourself, to leave a trace of good that goes on;
• your father, your mother, or both, during their lifetime;
• a loved one who has died: a parent, a grandparent, a brother, a friend;
• your spouse, a child, a newborn;
• someone to whom you want to give a tree in the name of friendship or gratitude.

No family relationship is required. What matters is that the name is the one you want to see linked to this tree.

Planting a tree in someone's name in Islam: what is it based on?

Two texts come up often. The first concerns the tree itself. The Prophet ﷺ said: “No Muslim plants a tree or sows a crop from which a bird, a person or an animal eats, without it being counted for him as charity.” (narrated by al-Bukhari, n°2320).

The second concerns giving on behalf of someone else. It is reported that a man asked the Prophet ﷺ whether he could give charity on behalf of his mother, who had died suddenly. The answer was yes (al-Bukhari, n°1388).

A fruit tree planted in a person’s name brings these two ideas together: something that feeds people over time, and an intention directed towards someone. The reward belongs to God alone. We act sincerely, and we hope. For a specific question of jurisprudence, it is best to ask a person of knowledge.

How is the name actually used?

The name you enter does not stay in a file. It follows the tree out to the field, in three ways:

On the sign. The name is written on a sign placed next to the tree at the time of planting. This is what links that particular tree to your intention.

On the photos. The photos you receive show the tree with its sign. So you can read the name yourself, without having to take our word for it.

In the video. A video of the planting is also sent to you. You can keep it, or share it with your family.

Which name should you write?

Write the name as you want to see it appear. A first name and a surname are fine. Check the spelling before you confirm: this is the text that will be copied onto the sign.

If you notice a mistake after ordering, write to us straight away, so that it can be corrected before the planting.

The steps, from order to photos

First, you choose a tree in the shop: mango, banana, papaya, guava, lemon, orange, avocado, jackfruit or date palm. Then you give the person’s name and your contact details, so you can receive the images.

The planting is carried out in Uganda by local teams. It follows the farming seasons: a tree cannot be planted just any time, and we would rather tell you that than announce a made-up date. You are told as soon as your tree has been planted, with photos as evidence.

The fruit does not come back to you. It feeds the families on site. That is the whole meaning of the gesture.

Should you tell the person?

That is up to you. Some prefer to show the photo of the sign to the person concerned. Others keep the gesture to themselves, between themselves and God. For someone who has died, the question does not arise in the same way: the images often help bring the family together around a memory.

If you want to give a tree in someone’s name for a birth or a wedding, the photos make a simple gift to pass on.

Where to start?

The simplest way is to choose a tree in the shop and give the name when you order. If you want to dedicate several trees to the same person, the packs bring together three, five or ten trees in a single intention. For a regular gesture, the monthly subscription plants one or more trees each month, with no commitment.

Two related subjects are covered in our other articles: how to choose the species of fruit tree, and how to go about it when you want to plant in the name of several people who have died. Take the time you need. There is no hurry.