Sycamore will give away over 800 free native trees at our “Arbor Day Tree Giveaway” sponsored by IU Health

Celebrate Arbor Day with Sycamore Land Trust by planting a free native tree! Sycamore is giving away more than 800 free native tree seedlings during its annual Arbor Day Tree Giveaway on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at Bloomingfoods East and Bloomingfoods Near West in Bloomington. The event is sponsored by IU Health.

Sycamore is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) conservation and environmental education organization that protects more than 11,800 acres across over 150 protected properties in southern Indiana, including 13 public nature preserves with more than 30 miles of free hiking trails. In addition to caring for and restoring habitat, Sycamore has planted more than 100,000 native trees on its nature preserves since 2023 to support biodiversity.

Each year, Sycamore offers free native tree seedlings to help community members bring more beneficial habitat to their own yards, neighborhoods, and communities. Planting native trees can provide food and shelter for wildlife, absorb carbon dioxide, and store carbon in the soil.

This year’s giveaway will distribute more than 800 native tree seedlings grown by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources’ Vallonia Nursery. Visitors will be able to choose from six native tree and shrub species that support wildlife, with a limit of one free native tree seedling per person. Available species while supplies last include elderberry (Sambucus canadensis), redbud (Cercis canadensis), persimmon (Diospyros virginiana), gray dogwood (Cornus racemosa), ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius), and red oak (Quercus rubra).

Native trees play an important role in supporting wildlife, and oaks are especially valuable as host plants for caterpillars. Research shows that oak trees, including red oaks, support more than 900 species of moth and butterfly caterpillars in North America, making them one of the most important keystone plants for wildlife.

Arbor Day is an international celebration of trees and their ecological importance, recognizing the value of planting, caring for, and protecting them. While some states observe Arbor Day at different times of year based on planting conditions, the national observance is held on the last Friday in April. In 2026, Arbor Day falls on Friday, April 24, and Sycamore’s giveaway will take place the following day, Saturday, April 25, 2026, to make it easier for community members to attend.

Sycamore Land Trust thanks Bloomingfoods Co-op Market for co-hosting the Arbor Day Tree Giveaway as part of their 2026 EarthFest Celebration, and IU Health for their generous support of this event.

###

Sycamore Land Trust is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit conservation organization founded in 1990 to preserve the beauty, health, and diversity of southern Indiana’s natural landscape through strategic land conservation, habitat restoration, and environmental education. Sycamore preserves and cares for 11,809 acres of forests, wetlands, wildflower meadows, and other wild lands on more than 150 protected properties in southern Indiana. The organization maintains over 30 miles of hiking trails on 13 of its nature preserves for free public access. Sycamore’s Environmental Education Program connects thousands of people of all ages and abilities to nature through guided hikes and free education programs for local schools and community organizations. Learn more at sycamorelandtrust.org.

Contact:
Kate Hammel, Communications Director, Sycamore Land Trust
Email: kate@sycamorelandtrust.org
Cell phone: (707) 477-0727