Depends on the size of a the tree :-) If an already established tree of reasonable size - not a seedling or sapling or brand new planting - then the cremains are unlikely to pose a problem.

Such a heartbreaking question. Not wishing to be disrespectful, but probably the most realistic solution when planting a sapling would be to mix the ashes with good soil and a dash of fertilizer. Probably not a happy image or conducive to a ceremony and I apologize if this is an upsetting reply.

Not disrespectful at all, I promise. It would be a seedling or sapling. My worry was putting some in, mixing it and for it not to grow, that’d be heartbreaking to her and myself. Thank you guys ❤️ I’m still trying to find a unique beautiful tree because let’s face it, not many 17 year olds would even care.

Place the mixed cremains well below the rootball, with a few inches of good soil to give the sapling a good start. Good luck with your project. Have you tried the tree forum for finding an appropriate specimen? Tree enthusiasts are very passionate. Give them a try.

I am so very sorry for the loss of such a special young person.

PLEASE be sure to check with the local ordinances on scattering, burial, or use of cremated remains. Because of health concerns almost all urban and some county areas have regulations limiting where your can spread, use or bury human ashes. A local funeral home may be able to answer this question for you.

The young lady sounds like a special person indeed! My condolences to all of you. When my MIL died a few years ago, the funeral home was participating in a local program that involved planting trees in a newly developed public garden space/walk-way. For a relatively small cost, cremation ashes could be ‘planted’ there and a memorial plaque added to the tree. There was a choice of types of trees that the family could select from. Maybe you and your friends could look for a local program like that - which could help deal with the issue of later moving away from a private property where the ashes were ‘planted’....

Let me just clarify - there are NO health concerns regarding the scattering of human cremains!! And they are typically not regulated except on public lands or at sea and even then may very well be allowed but only in specified areas. Very few municipalities have any regulations about scattering them on your own private property and you only need the owner's permission to scatter them on other private property.

It never hurts to check but the requirements in most areas are very loose.

You may want a long-lived, evergreen tree.

Thank you all, I’m overwhelmed.

"Let me just clarify - there are NO health concerns regarding the scattering of human cremains!!"

Well actually, cremated remains are extremely high in pH and sodium, plus likely some heavy metals, too. So basically, they could be classified as toxic herbicides, lol.

"burying ashes in concentrated amounts will have harmful effects on the environment. This is due to the fact that the pH level of the cremated ashes is extremely high and will not allow for the natural release of the good nutrients within the cremated ashes.

In addition, cremated ashes also contain sodium in amounts that range from 200 to 2000 times what plant life can tolerate. We know the detrimental effects of sodium on the human body. Plant life is no different.

These high pH and sodium levels are the two main reasons why burying ashes is toxic to plant life. During research, it was discovered that regular soils and potting soils alone cannot address the toxic effects of cremated ashes."

"the exact percentage of certain elements within the cremated remains varies according to the individual. No two samples of human ashes will be precisely the same in terms of elemental composition. This is due to the fact that a multitude of environmental factors can influence absorption. For instance, highly industrialized areas that experience acid rain will have a lower water pH. This lower pH allows for elements including copper, lead, and cadmium to potentially enter the drinking water and thus be ingested by people residing in the area. For similar reasons, people of lower socio-economic status who live near factories experience increased exposure to heavy metals. These trace elements are then absorbed by the skeletal system and will later be present in that individual’s cremated remains.

Other elements that could be present in human ashes in varying levels include arsenic, lead, silver, potassium, lithium, selenium, and vanadium.

All of the unique habits and environments experienced by your loved one during their lifetime leave a distinct elemental fingerprint on their skeleton which is then present in their ashes after the cremation process."

My comment was made in response to Jamie Ludwig's concern that ashes cannot be freely scattered due to health concerns. I was not referring to plants :-) There are NO health concerns to humans from cremated human remains!! There could certainly be issues if applied in concentration to plant roots or to the root zone but a broad distribution in a garden or park or wherever is unlikely to be a problem, any more than spreading any other type of fertilizer would be. And yes, human ashes can be considered a fertilizer:

• Phosphate 47.5%
• Calcium 25.3%
• Sulfate (Sulphate) 11.00%
• Potassium 3.69%
• Sodium 1.12%
• Chloride 1.00%
• Silica 0.9%
• Aluminum Oxide 0.72%
• Magnesium 0.418%
• Iron Oxide 0.118%
• Zinc 0.0342%
• Titanium Oxide 0.0260%
• Barium 0.0066%
• Antimony 0.0035%
• Chromium 0.0018%
• Copper 0.0017%
• Manganese 0.0013%
• Lead 0.0008%
• Tin 0.0005%
• Vanadium 0.0002%
• Beryllium <0.0001%
• Mercury <0.00001%

Virtually all of these elements are absorbed by plants to some degree as necessary to their growth. And pretty much any other fertilizer has an ability to be a "toxic herbicide" if applied in excess. As in all things, moderation is the key.