Keteleeria fortunei Seeds | Fortune’s Keteleeria

Keteleeria fortunei seed

LATIN NAME: Keteleeria fortunei

COMMON NAME: Fortune’s Keteleeria, Chinese Coffin Tree

Plant Profile

Fortune’s Keteleeria (Keteleeria fortunei) grows as a tree in the pine family. Cones are fat, woody and upright, sitting like ornaments on upper branches and ripening to a rich brown. It is a relict of an ancient lineage, a member of pine family whose relatives once covered far more of earth, and individual trees have lived for more than a thousand years, reaching enormous size. During flowering it gives bees and other insects a dependable food source. In combination, these characteristics make a persuasive case for growing it.

Science & Biotechnology

Keteleeria fortunei sits in the pine family, a group that keeps botanists, horticulturists and plant breeders busy with questions of classification, adaptation and ornamental potential. For a tree of such antiquity and value, Fortunes keteleeria has a steady and important record of research. From a research perspective, species of this kind are valuable material for work on propagation and on the selection of uniform lines.

Uses & Benefits

In the garden, Fortune’s Keteleeria earns its place in borders, containers and mixed plantings, and it also rewards growers who raise plants for cutting, drying or kitchen use. Ecologically, Fortunes keteleeria is a noble tree of the Chinese forest. Its dense evergreen canopy gives shelter for birds and wildlife, its seeds feed squirrels and birds, and it is a cornerstone of ancient forests where it grows. Its economic value is real and historic. Once settled, it thrives on neglect more than on fussing.

Keteleeria is a handsome Chinese conifer grown for forestry and collections; it has no medicinal record.

Growing from Seed

Sow fresh seed of Fortune’s Keteleeria under ordinary good conditions. Growing a Fortunes keteleeria from seed is a project for patient, and it is deeply rewarding. Keep the seedbed evenly moist and give the seedlings time to come up. Surface-sow onto a light, well-drained compost, dust over a thin covering, and keep evenly moist and sunny until the seedlings show. Prick the seedlings out once they are large enough to handle, grow them on in bright light, and plant out when conditions allow.

Our Take

Fortune’s Keteleeria, Chinese Coffin Tree settles in quickly once it finds its footing. Established seedlings need little beyond ordinary attention.

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