Keep Dunedin Beautiful, in association with Rotary and the Dunedin City Council, hosted the 11am event, which was opened by Dunedin Mayor Peter Chin.
A lone piper played and about 50 native trees were planted to celebrate newborns or to commemorate loved ones lost.
Keep Dunedin Beautiful co-ordinator Darlene Thomson said the community response had been "very positive", with participation well up on last year, when about 60 people had taken part.
"They came out regardless of the weather because it was Mother's Day and they thought it was really important," Mrs Thomson said.
Trees for Babies had been held at Bracken View for the past four years, but had earlier been held at other places in Dunedin and other times of the year.
Yesterday's positive response meant the annual event would continue to be held on Mother's Day, she said.
