About us
The Local Team for Shade Trees and Privacy Trees in Hillsboro
Since 1979, homeowners and landscapers across the Pacific Northwest have trusted Big Trees Today for mature, high-quality trees that provide immediate shade, privacy, color, texture, and natural insulation. Located just outside Portland, our nursery focuses exclusively on trees rather than grass, shrubs, or flowers. This clear specialization allows us to grow and deliver hundreds of carefully cultivated varieties with unmatched care and expertise. From vibrant ornamentals to towering shade trees and hardy evergreens, each tree is grown to make a strong and lasting impact in your landscape. By dedicating ourselves fully to trees, we offer exceptional service, in-depth knowledge, and long-term value to every customer.
Our Story
In 1979, Terry Hickman bought a tree spade and founded Big Trees Today, aiming to spend more time with his family after years on the road selling heavy equipment. He and his wife Nancy used marketing skills and fielded calls from home while learning about local trees. Without an initial stock of large trees, Terry matched customer needs by sourcing overgrown trees from homeowners and nurseries in Portland.
In 1985, the Hickmans purchased property near Hillsboro, Oregon to start growing their own trees, involving their children Tim and Daniel. With a growing business, Terry hired help for transplanting, allowing more focus on securing clients. As the company expanded, Tim and Daniel gained experience planting trees locally.
Big Trees Today moved to its current main office property in 1999. After college, Daniel returned in 2000 and eventually bought the company from his father in 2012. Currently, the operation has eight employees and supplies thousands of customers across the western states with shade, privacy, and landscaping trees.
Our Team
Dan
Meet Dan! He became the owner of Big Trees Today in 2012 after purchasing the business from his dad. His favorite trees are the Oregon White Oak and the Paperbark Maple. Fun fact: Dan loves practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Cole
Meet Cole, our Sales Manager. He has been with Big Trees Today since 2014, playing a vital role in helping customers find the perfect trees for their needs. Cole fields numerous phone calls each day and enjoys showcasing our wide variety of trees in person. His favorite tree is the Crape Myrtle. Fun fact: Before joining Big Trees Today, Cole couldn’t tell the difference between a Maple, Oak, Fir, or Cedar—now he’s proudly a self-proclaimed tree nerd!
Felix
Meet Felix, our Operations Manager! He makes sure our daily operations run like clockwork and visits sites ahead of planting days to ensure everything is ready. He’s been part of Big Trees since 2001. Fun fact: Felix truly loves all the trees.
Nelo
Meet Nelo, our Nursery Manager! He makes sure the right trees are dug at the right time and keeps everything running smoothly behind the scenes. He’s been part of our team since 2013. His favorite tree is the Maple, and fun fact—he enjoys hunting for cougars.
Paco
Say hello to Paco (or Francisco!), our Planting Foreman since 2020. His favorite tree is the October Glory Maple, and when he’s not working, you’ll likely find him outside enjoying a hike.
Ross
Meet Ross, the newest member of our team! He joined us in January 2025 and has already jumped right in, helping plant trees around the nursery and for customers. His favorite tree is the Red Maple, and fun fact—he’s left-handed!
Carlos
Meet Carlos! He works on our planting crew and keeps all of our nursery equipment running smoothly. He’s been part of our team since 2018. His favorite tree? The beautiful October Glory.
Ivan
Meet Ivan! He’s a key part of our digging crew and also helps plant trees for customers whenever needed. He started with us in 2022 and is a big fan of Maple trees. Fun fact: he enjoys hunting for bears.
Rebecca
Meet Rebecca, our Office Manager! She’s the female voice you hear on the phone and the one who keeps our schedule organized. She joined Big Trees in the middle of 2023 after a 20-year career in teaching. Her favorite trees are the Black Tupelo and the Gold Rider Cypress.
Our Promise
When you work with Big Trees Today, you get large, hardy trees of the highest quality to ensure a gorgeous landscape for years to come. In the past 40+ years, our family-owned business has earned a reputation for exceptional products and customer service. We’re passionate about trees, nurturing, and cultivating them until they reach their forever home with you, where they’ll be covered by our generous one-year limited warranty. We want your trees to provide shade, privacy, and beauty for a lifetime!
Our Clients
We’ve helped countless homeowners in Hillsboro and throughout Portland, as well as companies and public city and town organizations. Just a few of the commercial businesses and public organizations we’ve served include:
Visit the Big Trees Today!
We have a large, 50-acre nursery just outside of Beaverton to serve the greater Portland area with over 250 varieties of trees that thrive in our local climate. Best of all, you won’t have to wait years to enjoy the benefits of a beautiful, spreading shade tree or to get a full privacy screen from a row of evergreens. Our trees are larger than anything you’ll find at other nurseries or garden centers.
Contact our team today and let our friendly, experienced tree specialists help you select the perfect shade trees or privacy trees for your home or business.
