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The best solar lights for trees are solar spotlights to uplight the trunk and canopy, string lights to wrap branches, hot-air-balloon and hummingbird lanterns to hang, and cracked-glass globes to stake around the base. They all charge by day and switch on at dusk on their own—just keep each panel in the sun, and tie, never nail.
A well-lit tree is one of the biggest payoffs in a yard. Uplight a mature trunk and it becomes a sculpture after dark; wrap a small tree in warm bulbs and it glows like a centerpiece. Solar makes it easy—every light is self-contained, with no wiring, outlet, or transformer. The one catch is that trees cast shade and solar panels hate shade, so pick the right light for the effect you want, then give its panel a clear view of the sky.
The 5 best solar lights for trees
Lighting a tree comes down to four moves: uplighting the trunk from below, wrapping the branches, hanging a decorative piece, or staking accents around the base. These five products cover all four, and you can mix them on one tree.
1. Solar spotlights — to uplight the trunk & canopy
For real drama, nothing beats uplighting—a beam aimed up the trunk that grazes the bark and catches the underside of the canopy. Our solar waterproof spotlights are built for it: brighter than decorative stake lights and waterproof for year-round use. Stake one at the base angled upward, or set two on opposite sides of a big tree. Since they’re the brightest option here, panel placement matters most—more on that below. Full details are in our solar spotlights guide.
2. Solar string lights with remote — to wrap trunks & branches
To wrap a trunk or trace a branch, you want a long, flexible run of bulbs. The solar string lights with remote come in 27, 48, and 104 ft lengths (the 27 ft set has 12 Edison-style LED bulbs), so you can spiral a whole tree. The bulbs are shatter-resistant, there are built-in hanging loops, and the remote sets three brightness levels plus a dusk-to-dawn sensor. Wrap loosely and leave slack for growth—our guide to hanging solar string lights covers the technique.
3. Solar hot air balloon lantern — to hang from a branch
A hanging lantern gives a tree a single warm focal point. The solar hot air balloon lantern is the most decorative piece we carry—a balloon shape with a soft flame-style glow (an LED effect, not real fire) that looks charming over a seating area. It charges by day and lights up on its own at dusk; just hang it from a tree-friendly tie.
4. Hummingbird solar lanterns — to hang among the leaves
For something that reads as garden art by day and a soft glow by night, the hummingbird solar lanterns are hanging metal lanterns with a hummingbird motif. Hang one, or a cluster at staggered heights, in a leafy tree. Like the balloon lantern they’re solar, so hang them where the panel still catches daylight, not deep under the canopy.
5. Cracked glass solar globes — to stake around the base
Finish the look at ground level. Cracked-glass solar globes are stake lights that throw a patterned, sparkling glow rather than a plain beam, and a ring of them around the base frames the tree and ties it into the bed. They’re decorative accents, not floodlights, and push straight into the soil with no wiring. Browse more in the landscape lighting collection.
| Light | How you use it | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Solar spotlights | Uplight from below | Drama on trunks & canopies |
| String lights with remote | Wrap branches & trunk | A tree that glows all over |
| Hot air balloon lantern | Hang from a branch | A warm decorative focal point |
| Hummingbird lanterns | Hang among the leaves | Garden-art charm, day & night |
| Cracked-glass globes | Stake around the base | Framing the base & bed |
How to attach lights to a tree without hurting it
The golden rule of tree lighting: never nail, screw, or staple into a living tree. Piercing the bark invites disease and can damage the layer just beneath it that carries water and nutrients. Use tree-friendly ties instead—soft plant ties, rubber-coated garden wire, adjustable straps, or the light’s own hanging loops draped over a branch.
- Tie loosely. Leave slack so ties don’t bite the bark as the tree grows; check and loosen them each season.
- Hang, don’t fasten. Drape a lantern’s loop over a branch or use an S-hook rather than piercing the wood.
- Spiral, don’t cinch. Loop string lights up the trunk with plenty of give.
- Skip the staple gun. It wounds the bark—ties do the same job without the damage.
Put the solar panel where it actually gets sun
This step trips people up with trees. A solar light only glows at night if its panel banked daylight—and a tree’s job is to cast shade, so a spotlight under a full canopy or a lantern deep in the leaves may never charge. Many solar spotlights put the panel on a separate stake or cord, letting you plant the light under the tree and set the panel a few feet away in a sunny gap. For attached-panel lights and lanterns, choose a spot that still catches direct midday sun, or charge them in the open and move them into place. Be honest about the season, too: solar runs shorter in winter and after cloudy days, so wipe dust, pollen, and snow off the panels every few weeks to keep them charging fully.
How to choose your tree-lighting mix
Match the light to the effect: spotlights for drama, string lights to make the whole tree glow, lanterns for a warm focal point, and globes to frame the base. A big specimen tree can carry all four; a small ornamental tree might want just a wrap of string lights or one hanging lantern. Whatever you pick, tie—never nail—and give every panel a clear shot at the sun.
Solar tree lighting FAQ
What kind of solar light is best for uplighting a tree?
A solar spotlight. It’s brighter than decorative stake or path lights and throws a focused beam up the trunk and into the canopy. Stake it at the base angled upward—for a big tree, use two on opposite sides—and make sure the panel gets direct sun.
How do I wrap a tree with solar string lights?
Start at the base and spiral the string loosely up the trunk and along the branches, holding it with the built-in loops or soft ties. The lights come in 27, 48, and 104 ft lengths, so measure your tree first. Leave slack so the wrap doesn’t bite the bark as it grows.
Can I nail or staple lights to a tree?
No—avoid it. Nails, screws, and staples pierce the bark and can let in disease or damage the tissue that feeds the tree. Use soft plant ties, coated garden wire, straps, or the light’s own hanging loops instead, and keep them loose.
Will solar lights charge if they’re under a tree?
Only if the panel still sees the sky. A panel under a full canopy won’t collect enough daylight to light up at night. Use lights with a separate panel you can set in a sunny gap, or pick a spot with direct midday sun—and expect shorter runtime in winter.
Do solar tree lights turn on by themselves?
Yes. Every solar light here has a dusk-to-dawn sensor that switches on at nightfall and off at dawn—no timer, switch, or outlet. Runtime depends on how much sun the panel banked that day, so a sunny spot means a longer glow.
More guides
- The complete solar spotlights guide
- How to hang solar string lights
- Best solar lights for your backyard
Specifications are current as of publication and may change. See product pages for details.