How to Get a Spirit Sapling in OSRS A Step-by-Step Guide

In Old School RuneScape (OSRS), spirit saplings are a key item for players looking to grow spirit trees, which provide convenient teleportation across Gielinor. Whether you’re a seasoned farmer or just hitting the required level, getting a spirit sapling can feel daunting due to the rarity of spirit seeds and specific Farming requirements. This guide breaks down everything you need to know about obtaining a spirit sapling, from acquiring seeds to planting them, with tips to make the process smoother. Let’s dive into the details!

Spirit saplings are used to grow spirit trees at level 83 Farming, offering access to a teleportation network that connects key locations like the Gnome Stronghold, Farming Guild, and player-owned houses (POH). Unlike other saplings, spirit saplings are untradeable, and their seeds are rare, making them a prized item for players aiming to optimize travel or complete high-level Farming goals.

What Makes Spirit Saplings Unique?

Unlike regular tree saplings, spirit saplings require a spirit seed, which cannot be bought on the Grand Exchange. They also take 58 hours and 40 minutes to grow into a full spirit tree, granting 19,501.3 Farming experience (199.5 for planting and 19,301.8 for checking health). Additionally, spirit trees have limited planting spots, with only one allowed at level 83 Farming, two at 91, and unlimited at 99.

Why Bother with Spirit Saplings?

Spirit trees are a game-changer for efficient travel. They connect to permanent locations like the Gnome Stronghold and Varrock’s Grand Exchange, saving time for skilling, questing, or bossing. Planting one in your POH (with 75 Construction) centralizes your teleportation hub, making it a must-have for high-level players.

Step 1 Acquiring a Spirit Seed

The first hurdle in getting a spirit sapling is obtaining a spirit seed. These seeds are untradeable and only drop from specific sources, so you’ll need to put in some effort. Here’s how to get them:

Best Sources for Spirit Seeds

Bird Nests: Obtained from Woodcutting, birdhouse runs, or trading mole claws/skins to Wyson the gardener in Falador Park. Nests have a chance to contain spirit seeds, with seed nests being the goal.
High-Level Bosses and Monsters: Enemies like Zulrah, Vorkath, Abyssal Sire, Hespori, Lizardman Shaman, and Demonic Gorillas drop spirit seeds at varying rates. Hespori, in particular, is a reliable Farming-related boss.
Farming Contracts: Completing medium, hard, or special contracts at the Farming Guild (level 45+ Farming) can reward seed packs, which occasionally include spirit seeds.
Rare Drops from Skilling: Activities like Wintertodt (at high Farming levels) or managing your Kingdom in Miscellania can yield spirit seeds through nest rewards.

Tips for Efficient Seed Farming

To maximize your chances:

Focus on Birdhouse Runs: Set up birdhouses every 50 minutes for passive nest collection.
Trade Mole Parts: Buy mole claws or skins on the Grand Exchange and trade with Wyson for nests. Expect to spend 2–5M GP for a decent chance at a spirit seed.
Target Hespori: This boss is accessible with moderate combat stats and offers a consistent seed drop table.

Step 2 Creating the Spirit Sapling

Once you have a spirit seed, crafting the sapling is straightforward but requires specific items and a Farming level of 83 (or lower with boosts). Here’s the process:

Items Needed

Item	Purpose	How to Obtain
Spirit Seed	Base for the sapling	Bosses, nests, or contracts
Filled Plant Pot	Holds the seed	Farming shops or Grand Exchange
Gardening Trowel	Plants the seed	Farming shops or tool leprechauns
Watering Can	Waters the seedling	Farming shops or Grand Exchange

Steps to Make a Spirit Sapling

Ensure you have at least 83 Farming (boostable from 78 with spicy stews or garden pies).
Use the spirit seed on a filled plant pot with a gardening trowel in your inventory to create a spirit seedling.
Water the seedling with a watering can or cast the Humidify spell to turn it into a watered seedling.
Wait 0–5 minutes (one crop cycle) for the seedling to grow into a spirit sapling. You can bank it during this time—it matures automatically.

Boosting Farming Levels

If you’re below 83 Farming, use these boosts:

Spicy Stew: With yellow spice, it can boost Farming by up to +5. Stock up on spices from the Evil Dave quest.
Garden Pie: Grants a +3 Farming boost. Buy or make them (requires 34 Cooking).

Pro Tip: Both planting the seed and the sapling require 83 Farming. Time your boost carefully to do both in one go by checking crop cycle ticks (every 5 minutes).

Step 3 Planting the Spirit Sapling

With your spirit sapling ready, it’s time to plant it in a spirit tree patch. This step also requires 83 Farming and a spade.

Spirit Tree Patch Locations

There are five spirit tree patches in OSRS:

Port Sarim: Northeast of Brimhaven, accessible via charter ship or Amulet of Glory.
Etceteria: South of the castle, great for Kingdom management. Use a Ring of Wealth or fairy ring (CIP code after Fremennik Trials).
Brimhaven: Near the docks, reachable by charter ship or house teleport (if nearby).
Hosidius: North of Saltpetre, requires 35% Hosidius favor. Use Xeric’s Talisman or Skills Necklace.
Farming Guild: Upper tier, requires 85 Farming (or 65 with boosts).

Protecting Your Spirit Tree

To prevent disease, pay the nearby gardener 5 monkey nuts, 1 monkey bar, and 1 ground suqah tooth (noted items accepted). Here’s how to get the payment:

Monkey Nuts and Bar: Buy from Solihib’s Food Stall on Ape Atoll or the Grand Exchange.
Ground Suqah Tooth: Kill Suqah on Lunar Isle (requires Lunar Diplomacy) and use a pestle and mortar on the tooth.

Without payment, you risk losing the tree, so always secure it!

Tips for Success and Common Mistakes to Avoid

Getting and growing a spirit sapling can be tricky, especially for first-timers. Here are some pointers to ensure success and pitfalls to dodge.

Top Tips for Spirit Sapling Farming

Stockpile Seeds Early: Start birdhouse runs or contract farming as soon as possible to build a seed reserve.
Use POH for Convenience: Planting a spirit tree in your POH (75 Construction) doesn’t count toward your limit and creates a teleport hub.
Time Boosts Wisely: If boosting, align planting with crop ticks to avoid losing your Farming level prematurely.
Trade Excess Seeds: At 85 Farming, swap extra spirit seeds with Guildmaster Jane for tier 5 seed packs, worth ~95K GP each.

Common Mistakes

Forgetting Boost Timing: If your Farming level drops below 83 mid-process, you’ll need to re-boost.
Ignoring Payment: Failing to pay the gardener risks your tree dying, wasting time and resources.
Planting Without Planning: Choose your patch strategically based on your gameplay (e.g., Farming Guild for skilling, POH for teleports).

Maximizing the Value of Your Spirit Tree

Once your spirit tree is grown, it’s more than just a teleport—it’s a long-term investment in your OSRS journey.

Teleportation Benefits

Spirit trees connect to key locations, including:

Gnome Stronghold: Ideal for early-game skilling and quests.
Varrock Grand Exchange: Perfect for quick trading.
Farming Guild: A skilling hub for high-level farmers.

Unlock the full network by completing Tree Gnome Village and progressing through related quests.

Long-Term Farming Strategy

Spirit trees are a milestone in Farming training. At 91 and 99 Farming, you can plant more, increasing your teleport options and XP gains. Combine spirit tree runs with other Farming activities like herb or tree patches for efficient leveling.

Getting a spirit sapling in OSRS requires patience, but the rewards are worth it. From hunting rare spirit seeds to carefully boosting your Farming level, each step brings you closer to a powerful teleportation tool. Start with birdhouse runs or bossing for seeds, craft your sapling with care, and plant it in a strategic patch. With this guide, you’re ready to grow your first spirit tree and explore Gielinor like never before. Happy farming!