Creating Canopy Tree Giveaway
Creating Canopy is an annual yard tree giveaway for University and UPHS employees. The event is partnership between Penn, Tree Philly, and Morris Arboretum.
Creating Canopy Tree Giveaway
Creating Canopy is an annual yard tree giveaway for University and UPHS employees. The event is partnership between Penn, Tree Philly, and Morris Arboretum.
At a Glance
Penn supports urban greening, especially in the greater Philadelphia region, by providing free trees to University of Pennsylvania and the University of Pennsylvania Hospital System staff and faculty.
The University partners with TreePhilly, a program of Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, for the Creating Canopy tree giveaway.
Since the first Creating Canopy in 2011, Penn has distributed over 2,500 trees.
Print this flyer and post it in the break room or other common spaces.
How to Get a Tree
Staff and faculty of the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Pennsylvania Hospital System are invited to register for a free tree two weeks before the annual giveaway event. Trees will be available to reserve on a first-come, first-served basis only through our online registration system. As part of our support of the City of Philadelphia’s Philly Tree Plan, priority registration is given to Philadelphia residents. Learn what trees are available to select.
- Priority Registration will begin on Monday, April 20, 2026, at 10AM for Penn and UPHS staff and faculty that are City of Philadelphia residents.
- Open Registration will begin on May 1, 2026, at 10AM for all Penn and UPHS staff and faculty.
Limit one tree per household. Addresses, zip codes, and registration times will be verified.
Those who successfully register will be responsible for picking their tree up from Penn’s campus during the event and transporting it home. Find more details in the FAQs.
Picking Up the Tree
When you register, you will select a time to pick up your tree. In order to keep traffic moving, please arrive during your chosen time slot. The tree pick up event will be on Thursday, May 7, 2026, at 3-6 p.m. at the Penn Park Parking Lot (3100 Lower Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104). Many GPS systems to do not recognize "Lower Walnut Street", so please familiarize yourself with our campus map.
The responsibility is yours to get your new tree home. Bring your car, or arrange a ride. Some past tree recipients have made creative use of wagons or hand trucks to transport their trees.
The young trees that you pick up will vary in size. Some trees are 2FT tall, while others are 9FT. Make sure your tree will fit in your vehicle. You may wish to bring a plastic tarp or blanket to protect your car from moisture and soil.
Directions: Travel East on Chestnut Street to the intersection of Chestnut and S. 31st Street. Turn right on to South 31st Street. Drive to the end of South 31st Street and bear left into the Penn Park Parking Lot. The Creating Canopy Tree Giveaway is located on the far east side of the parking lot.
Sharing Your Tree Story
Creating Canopy has given away over 2,500 trees since it began in 2011. We would love to hear your stories to help us share the impact and encourage further greening.
Tree Care Resources
For more information on how to plant and care for your tree, visit the TreePhilly website or review the resources below.
Frequently Asked Questions
There is a limit of one tree per household. Identification and address will be confirmed on site. Bring your ID.
2025 registrants selected from the following tree species. 2026 tree species will be posted in spring 2026.
- American Linden
- Apple – Liberty
- Dogwood – Pagoda
- Dogwood – Cherokee Brave
- Fig – Chicago Hardy
- Magnolia – Cucumber
- Magnolia – Galaxy
- Magnolia – Sweetbay
- Magnolia – Yellow Bird
- Oak – White
- Oak – Willow
- Redbud – Eastern
- Sourwood
- White Fringe Tree
Review the tree information cards to learn more about each species.
All trees are given away at the three-hour event Penn’s main campus. Registrants will be emailed before the event with instructions for tree pick-up. When you register, you will select a time to pick up your tree. In order to keep traffic moving, please arrive during your chosen time slot.
You are responsible for getting your new tree home. Bring your car, or arrange a ride. Some past tree recipients have made creative use of wagons or hand trucks to transport their trees. The young trees that you pick up will vary in size. Some trees are 2FT tall, while others are 9FT. Make sure your tree will fit in your vehicle. You may wish to bring a plastic tarp or blanket to protect your car from moisture and soil.
If you are no longer able to pick up your tree, please email us at sustainability@upenn.edu and let us know. We have many people who would like a leafy, new friend!
Our event end at 6 p.m. Any trees that had been reserved but are unclaimed by 6 p.m. will be available to Penn and UPHS staff and faculty on a first-come, first-served basis.
The TreePhilly, Philadelphia Orchard Project, and the Pennsylvania Horticultural society all provide great resources and tips for caring for your new tree. Refer to the Tree Care Resources section on this page.
There is a pivotal need for trees in urban areas for the purposes of storm water management, natural cooling, critical wildlife habitat, and the many other benefits. Recent research shows that some neighborhoods in Philadelphia can be up to 22 degrees hotter than surrounding areas, making tree planting in the urban areas critically important.
Our City Partner
To encourage the continual greening of urban areas in Greater Philadelphia, the university is partners with TreePhilly, a program of Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, for the Creating Canopy tree giveaway. Launched in response to the Office of Sustainability’s Greenworks Plan, TreePhilly strives to reach 30% tree canopy coverage in every Philadelphia neighborhood. The city helps local residents connect with the resources they need to plant and care for the Philadelphia urban forest. Learn how you can make your neighborhood greener with TreePhilly.