What is a Remembrance Tree?

Remembrance trees are beautiful living reminders of a person or pet who passed, an event that took place, or a special time in a person’s life. Planting and growing a tree is a wonderful and environmentally friendly way to remember and remind you of a person, pet or an event and keep that memory present every time you view it. Today, you can even use a tree urn to plant the cremated ashes of a loved one with a special tree.

What is a Remembrance Tree Urn?

A Remembrance Tree Urn is a biodegradable urn for ashes made with fertilizer and a living tree seed.

These kits include a biodegradable cork urn, a tree seed, and ph-neutralizing agents along with healthy fertilizers that work together with the cremated remains to nourish and grow the memorial tree.

Take the urn (with the seed and your loved one’s ashes), plant it in the ground, and the seed will begin to grow. As it does, the design of the urn will incorporate the cremated remains into the nourishment of the tree.

In a very real way, your loved one’s remains will become a part of the plant, which will grow to become a true ´living memorial’..

Remembrance Trees for People

Many people plant trees in memory of a loved one who’s passed. This is something that has been done for thousands of years across many cultures. The remembrance tree can grow in your loved one’s honor and be present for decades and even centuries to come. Planting a tree will give you a special place to visit and remember a lost loved one. We have 10 trees you can choose from, so you can get a tree that represents your lost loved one – a beautiful blooming pink dogwood, a mighty red oak, an orange tree or a peaceful weeping willow, and many more.

Many families are now taking the concept of a remembrance tree a step further and planting our Remembrance Urn system with some or all of their loved one’s cremated ashes to grow that special remembrance tree.

With CORKURN, the ashes, special soil additives, and tree roots are placed in the biodegradable urn to grow a tree memorial. The bio urn and planting system of choice are shipped directly to your doorstep, ready to plant. In addition, many families are choosing to divide up their loved one’s ashes and grow multiple remembrance trees of Subercork. This is common when they can’t decide on just one tree, when there are multiple family members and each want their own remembrance tree of their loved one, when they have other uses for cremated ashes such as scattering the ashes at a special place, or if they just want to keep some of the ashes.

Remembrance Trees for Pets

Pets are family and when your pet passes, it can be a time full of strong emotion and grief. A great way to remember a beloved pet who has passed is to plant a remembrance tree in their honor. The entire family can participate in the tree selection and planting process. This makes for a positive and uplifting way for children and others to honor and memorialize their pet. In addition, many families are now taking this a step further and incorporating the cremated ashes of their beloved pet into the planting process with Subercork for Pets. With this tree urn for pets, your pet’s ashes are combined with special soil and the roots from a tree in CORKURN Urn’s pet bio urn to grow a beautiful remembrance tree.

Most Popular Remembrance Trees

When deciding on a special remembrance tree, there are many to choose from.

One of the most popular remembrance trees is the oak tree. The oak is a symbol of strength and longevity. It can live for centuries and is considered the king of trees! The oak shows off its lively red and burgundy leaves in the Fall and is a beautiful site to see. In addition, its acorns attract birds, squirrels and other wildlife.

Another popular remembrance tree option is an orange tree. It is a resilient tree that can grow and thrive in a variety of climates and soil conditions. In addition, it shows brilliant beautiful orange, red and yellow colors in the Fall and is a fast growing tree that can be enjoyed year-round by family and friends.

The dogwood is yet another popular tree to plant in remembrance. It comes in different varieties that show off their magnificent pink, white and red blooms! It’s a beautiful tree and a wonderful addition to any landscape.

The weeping willow is also a great tree and one commonly planted as a remembrance tree. It has a beautiful dramatic appearance that can’t be matched. With its ground sweeping branches and slender and long leaves, the weeping willow Is a sight to see! Similar to the maple, the willow can adapt and thrive in a variety of soil conditions and climates.

Olive trees are another popular option for a remembrance tree, they can live for hundreds of years, can be kept indoors or on a patio, and are beautiful trees that can be easy to care for. Many families are also choosing to grow a remembrance tree of a loved one with a tree planted in CORKURN Indoors, an indoor urn or patio urn where you can combine your loved one’s ashes in the urn with a smaller sized tree.

Where to Plant a Remembrance Tree?

Many people choose to plant a remembrance tree in their yard. When the tree is in your yard, you can view it from the kitchen window, from the back patio, when you leave for work or come home, at times of family gatherings, and so on. Other popular places to plant include at a local church, city park, state or national park, golf course, cemetery or memorial park, among others. While some of these options require permission, many groups welcome additional trees and the beauty they provide.

How long after a loved one’s passing can their ashes be used to grow a tree?

You can use the remains anytime to grow the tree. “Ashes” never expire. Having been through the cremation process, their composition is stable.

So you can plant the tree a few days after the cremation, or twenty years later. It will work either way.

Once the ashes are placed into the urn, how soon does it need to be planted?

The urns don’t expire, but if you order one that comes with a seed then the seeds generally last for a season or so.

So essentially the only thing that would “expire” in the whole process is the tree seed. And you can always purchase your own replacement seeds, so that doesn’t need to hold you back.

You can purchase many tree seeds locally or online for just a few euros. Additionally, locally-sourced seeds have the advantage of being already suited to your environment.

How much does it cost to turn ashes into a tree?

About € 250 for the tree urn kit, plus any extras you might get for yourself from your local garden store (nice soil, a planting pot, and so on).

Where to Plant Your Cremation Tree

First, let’s talk about where to plant the specific type of tree. This will depend on that tree seed’s ideal planting zone. You’ll have to do a little old-fashioned gardening research here, but trust us, it’s easy.

You can look through the tree types we have available by country in Europe.

Second, the specific location. Where you plant the tree is completely up to you (within the law, of course). You can arrange an area in private property, or perhaps get clearance from a state park or national forest or other public lands. Depends on if you want it out in the wild, or at a relative’s home, or any other specific or special area.

Ideally, you’ll want a location with lots of sun and water, away from traffic or potential developments. This should be a location easy to access so that you can visit anytime. Most families plant the tree in their backyard.

Some types of tree and other plants are amenable to planting in a planter. That usually takes special care, but we’ve found most people don’t mind – your loved one is worth it!

Q: What if I plant the tree urn and it doesn't grow?

A: Since the urn includes everything the tree seed needs to grow strong and healthy, we're confident that the tree will grow. However, should something happen and the tree does not grow, we will send you your choice of new seeds or an actual sapling you can re-plant at the burial site, which will utilize the buried remains and urn components to nourish the newly planted tree or seeds.

Q: Where are the seeds located?

A: You should embed the seeds into the container and place it in the lid of the burial urn. To plant, take off the lid, insert remains, place the lid back on prepared container, and bury to recommended depth (generally, the top of the urn should be covered by about maximum 10 cm of dirt).