How much does Tree Agate cost?

Tree agate is an opaque white chalcedony with green dendritic (tree-like branching) inclusions that create patterns resembling ferns, moss, or miniature trees. Unlike moss agate (which is translucent), tree agate is fully opaque.

The green dendrites are inclusions of chlorite, celadonite, or other green minerals that infiltrated the chalcedony along micro-fractures during or after formation. The branching patterns follow the fracture geometry, creating organic-looking shapes through entirely inorganic processes. Each pattern is unique, making every tree agate one of a kind.

Dendrites grow through a process called diffusion-limited aggregation, where mineral-bearing solutions infiltrate through narrow channels and deposit material at the advancing front. The branching occurs because the solution reaches some areas faster than others, creating the characteristic tree-like pattern.

Identification Guide

Tree agate is identified by its white opaque chalcedony base with green dendritic patterns. Unlike moss agate (translucent with three-dimensional inclusions), tree agate is opaque and the dendrites appear more like printed patterns on a white surface.

Distinguish from moss agate (translucent body), dendritic agate (typically translucent with dark dendrites), and painted stones (dendrites should be mineral inclusions within the stone, not on the surface). Tree agate has the hardness (7) and feel of chalcedony.

Spotting Fakes

Tree agate is affordable and rarely faked. The main concern is natural vs. enhanced: some material may have the green color enhanced by dyeing. Natural tree agate shows green dendrites that vary in intensity and have organic-looking borders. Uniformly vivid green throughout, or green that follows fractures in an unnatural way, may indicate enhancement.

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Verify Tree Agate Before You Buy

Affiliate picks

Tree Agate gets imitated with glass, dyed stand-ins, and cheaper lookalikes. These four tools run the checks in the Spotting Fakes section above, so you can tell real from fake before you pay - online, at a show, or in a shop.

10x triplet jeweler's loupe$20-40
The first tool worth owning. Round gas bubbles (glass), dye pooled in cracks (dyed howlite, magnesite, agate), and flow lines are invisible to the naked eye and obvious at 10x. A triplet lens keeps the edges sharp.
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Mohs hardness pick set~$40
Calibrated picks settle the cheap swaps in seconds - howlite (3.5) sold as turquoise (5-6), glass (5.5) sold as quartz (7). Faster and more accurate than the fingernail-and-knife method.
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0.01g digital pocket scale~$15
Density catches what the eye misses. A glass 'quartz' weighs suspiciously light; lead-loaded plastic 'lapis' weighs suspiciously heavy. Weigh, compare to the known density, and flag the mismatch before the money leaves your hand.
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365nm UV flashlight$20-30
Many stones have a distinctive fluorescence (hyalite opal, fluorite, ruby, scheelite). A longwave UV light is the fastest tiebreaker when a piece passes the other tests but still looks off.
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Cultural & Metaphysical Traditions

Presented as cultural traditions, not scientific evidence

Tree agate is called the 'stone of plenitude' and has one of the oldest agricultural connections in the crystal tradition. European farmers placed it in fields for abundant harvests. Practitioners associate it with growth, new beginnings, and abundance. The tree-like patterns connect it to themes of branching possibilities and organic growth at your own pace.

Metaphysical and “healing” associations are cultural traditions, not medical advice or scientific fact. Crystals are not a substitute for professional medical care.

ChakraHeart ChakraRoot ZodiacVirgo ZodiacTaurus ElementEarth

Where It's Found

India - Gujarat, Maharashtra

Primary commercial source

Brazil - Rio Grande do Sul

Good quality material

Uruguay - Various

Some fine specimens

United States - Oregon, Montana

Collector-grade material

Price Guide

Entry$2-8 tumbled

Mid-Range$10-30 polished specimens

Collector$20-80 large display pieces

Good to Know

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Scratch test: At hardness 7, Tree Agate can scratch glass and steel. It's durable enough for any type of jewelry.

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Global supply: Found in 4 notable locations worldwide, from India to United States.

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Heft test: Tree Agate has average mineral density (2.58-2.64). It feels about as heavy as you'd expect from a stone its size.

Care & Safety

What tree agate can and cannot tolerate, based on its hardness (Mohs 7) and chemistry (SiO₂ (with manganese/iron oxide dendrites)).

Can Tree Agate go in water?

Yes. Tree Agate is hard (Mohs 7) and chemically stable, so plain water is fine for rinsing and cleaning with mild soap. Avoid prolonged soaking, which serves no purpose, and dry the stone afterward.

Can Tree Agate go in salt water?

Not recommended, even though tree agate itself is hard and not water-soluble. Salt is corrosive and mildly abrasive: it can dull a polished surface, attack metal settings, and crystallize inside small fractures as the stone dries. A brief dip will not destroy tree agate, but rinse it with fresh water afterward and dry it. For routine cleaning, plain water is the safer choice.

Water safety for every stone →Full crystal care guide →