Creating Canopy is Penn’s annual tree giveaway program for University and Health System employees. One of the goals of Penn’s Climate and Sustainability Action Plan 3.0 is education about the importance of trees and the creation of public open spaces. Since the start of Creating Canopy in 2011, we have added nearly 2,500 trees to the tree canopy in the greater Philadelphia area. 

For 2022, we are continuing some pandemic protocols and limiting the size of our event on Thursday, May 5, from 3-6 p.m. We will be offering just 100 trees, only to residents of the City of Philadelphia. Staff members of the University or UPHS will need a valid Penn ID to pick up their tree. We are offering one tree per household. 

Tree species available this year are: American Persimmon, Arkansas Black Apple, Black Gum, Cherokee Brave Dogwood, Chicago Hardy Fig, Liberty Apple, Moonglow Magnolia, Rising Sun Redbud, Sassafras, Swamp White Oak. Details about each tree are available on our website: https://www.sustainability.upenn.edu/participate/staff-and-faculty/creating-canopy.

Registration will open at 10 a.m. on Monday, April 18 on our website. Trees are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Any reserved trees not picked up by 6 p.m. on May 5 will be available after the event, also on a first-come, first-served basis.

—Penn Sustainability