4. The Trees at the 9/11 Memorial Were Purposefully Chosen

With every part of the design very carefully planned, even the trees at the Memorial Plaza are purposefully chosen. The swamp white oaks were chosen in part of their durability and leaf color, changing into a beautiful golden-brown and even pink color in the fall, but for the 9/11 Memorial, location is everything. These trees were chosen by crew members within a 500-mile radius of the World Trade Center. Additionally, there were ones coming from Pennsylvania and Washington D.C. close to the areas that were also impacted by the September 11 attacks.
The trees can grow to be 60 feet tall, but no trees will ever look identical as a physical reminder “that they are living individuals.” Today, there are more than 400 trees planted around the reflecting pools.