Newcomers to P.E.I. have been given a unique way to plant their roots in the Island's culture and landscape.

Tree saplings were given to about 160 newcomers from 34 countries that will be participating in next week's Oath of Citizenship ceremony.

"We want to celebrate our cultures and immigration to Prince Edward Island because with immigration, it grows our economy, it grows our culture and it just grows our well-being," Richard Brown, minister of workforce and advanced learning, said at a ceremony to launch the tree planting initiative on Friday outside of the Jones Building in Charlottetown.

Brown was joined by Charlottetown Liberal Party Member of Parliament Sean Casey, Masoud Fahandezhsaadi and Forough Saadat, originally from Iran, and other government officials.

Besides the oath of citizenship ceremony, DiverseCity, a multicultural street festival in Charlottetown, Montague and Summerside, is scheduled starting this Sunday.