📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Qasimhiolic
Business
US Billionaires Pay Premium for 100-Year-Old Trees, Nurseries Add Helipads
✍️ Bhaskar English
🗓 10 Sep 2026, 01:37 PM
👁 21
Wealthy Americans are turning century‑old trees into luxury assets, prompting high‑end nurseries to construct private helipads for delivery.
A niche market is emerging in the United States as ultra‑rich individuals seek out trees that are a century old to adorn their estates. The trees, sourced from historic properties and old-growth forests, are being sold at prices far above typical landscaping costs, turning them into conspicuous symbols of wealth.
Specialized nurseries catering to this clientele have begun to offer bespoke services, including the construction of private helipads on their premises. The helipads enable helicopters to land directly with the massive, mature trees, bypassing the logistical challenges of ground transport.
Industry observers note that the trend reflects a broader shift toward experiential luxury, where ownership of living, centuries‑old organisms is valued as much as art or real‑estate. While exact transaction figures remain private, the willingness to invest in such unique assets underscores the depth of discretionary spending among America’s billionaire class.
The practice also raises questions about sustainability and the ethical sourcing of ancient trees, prompting some environmental groups to call for stricter regulations on the trade of heritage flora.
Specialized nurseries catering to this clientele have begun to offer bespoke services, including the construction of private helipads on their premises. The helipads enable helicopters to land directly with the massive, mature trees, bypassing the logistical challenges of ground transport.
Industry observers note that the trend reflects a broader shift toward experiential luxury, where ownership of living, centuries‑old organisms is valued as much as art or real‑estate. While exact transaction figures remain private, the willingness to invest in such unique assets underscores the depth of discretionary spending among America’s billionaire class.
The practice also raises questions about sustainability and the ethical sourcing of ancient trees, prompting some environmental groups to call for stricter regulations on the trade of heritage flora.