Want to Grow a Moon Tree? Here's How to Get Seedlings NASA Flew to Outer Space

If you're an avid gardener, it's likely the plants in your landscape were sourced from a variety of different places. Maybe your hydrangea bush was once a cutting you got from a friend or your vining mandevilla was found in front of a neighbor's yard with a "free" sign on it. But few origin stories compare to having a plant in your garden that was once in outer space—which will soon be a reality for a few lucky plant lovers.

NASA, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, is giving education and community organizations the opportunity to receive a living piece of spaceflight history: seedlings that have traveled to outer space. The seedlings were grown from tree seeds of five different species (sycamores, sweetgums, Douglas-firs, loblolly pines, and giant sequoias) that flew around the moon on NASA's Artemis I mission in 2022. The nearly 2,000 seeds were then germinated and grown into seedlings in preparation for their new roles as Artemis Moon Trees.

As a way to kick off the upcoming school year, NASA's Next Gen STEM project is welcoming organizations that engage with students or the public to apply for a Moon Tree seedling. According to a press release by NASA, examples of eligible institutions include formal and informal K-12-serving organizations, universities, community organizations, museums and science centers, and government organizations.

"NASA's Artemis Moon Trees are bringing the science and ingenuity of space exploration back down to Earth," said Bill Nelson, NASA Administrator. "Last year, these seeds flew on the Artemis I mission 40,000 miles beyond the Moon. With the help of the USDA, this new generation of Moon Trees will plant the spirit of exploration across our communities and inspire the next generation of explorers."

This opportunity marks the second generation of Moon Trees for distribution on Earth. In 1971, Apollo 14 Command Module Pilot Stuart Roosa carried hundreds of tree seeds as a part of his personal kit. Following the successful return of Apollo 14, the Forest Service germinated the seeds. The seedlings were then planted around the U.S.

Now, NASA hopes that the new batch of moon seeds—which traveled 270,000 miles from earth—will carry on the legacy launched more than 50 years ago. Those interested in applying must do so by Friday, October 16. Instructions for submitting a proposal is available online on NASA's website. The Moon Trees team and USDA Forest Service will review every application submitted to determine the viability to successfully host a seedling.