The Moon Trees

Moon Trees are trees grown from seed that went to the moon and back to earth on a NASA space flight. The first,set of moon trees were aboard the Apollo 14 space flight. They were known as "Bicentennial Moon Trees" and the University of Arizona was the recipient of one of the American sycamore seedlings upon completion of the USDA/NASA experiment. That resilient specimen of Platanus occidentalis arrived on campus in 1976 and was planted near the Lunar and Planetary Sciences Building and the Planetarium. 

Once again, this time in the 21st Century, NASA sent seeds around the moon on the Artemis I mission in 2022. Once again, moon tree seedlings were distributed to plant in communities around the United States. In partnership with Lunar and Planetary Sciences, the Campus Arboretum submitted an application in Fall 2023. In Spring 2024, we were selected by NASA  out of hundreds of applicants receive a second generation ‘Moon Tree’ - a sweetgum seedling known scientifically as Liquidambar stryaciflua.  NASA chose institutions based on potential for suitable care, and their ability to maximize educational opportunities and community outreach. 

To learn about each of these Moon Trees, visit the hyperlinked pages from below:

 See also: https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-finds-new-homes-for-artemis-gener...

(LEFT) NASA prepares the tree for shipping in Spring 2024 |  (RIGHT) Dolores Hill of UA Lunar and Planetary Sciences receives and arranges delivery to the arboretum.

Brian Rasmussen receives and unpacks the tree in the arboretum greenhouse | The tree recovers and awaits planting in the Fall