In a ceremony on Saturday, Nick Cave became the first local cultural identity in more than a century to  have a tree planted in his honour at the Royal Botanic Gardens.

As the man who sang, "I put my hand over hers, down in the Lime Tree Arbour", it was fitting that he planted a lime tree with a silver spade. "The lime tree grows into something very soulful ... and is, of course, connected to the song Lime Tree Arbour – a song with a very romantic lyric I am particularly proud of," Cave said.

Cave is expected to be the first of many Melbourne poets, painters, musicians, actors and cultural figures who will plant a tree as part of a new gardens program.

Previously, the privilege has been granted almost exclusively to  governors-general, visiting royalty and gardens officials. Of 103 commemorative trees planted since the garden was founded in 1846, only two artists – Dame Nellie Melba and Polish composer Ignacy Paderewski – have been honoured. That was 110 years ago.

Cave got in first partly because gardens director and chief executive Timothy Entwisle has been a lifelong fan.

"But he's also a good choice because he's someone who is still adding to world culture. Having Nick plant a tree is about the Royal Botanic Gardens being part of Melbourne and the world today, not just a relic of the past," he said.

"We think it's a nice way to bring more people into the gardens and to celebrate the diversity and accomplishments of people associated with Melbourne."