Wollemia nobilis Seeds | Wollemi Pine
LATIN NAME: Wollemia nobilis
COMMON NAME: Wollemi Pine, Wollemi Tree
Plant Profile
Wollemi Pine (Wollemia nobilis) is a rare evergreen conifer of the araucaria family (Araucariaceae), known only from fossils until its discovery in 1994 in a hidden canyon near Sydney, Australia. It reaches 25-40 m, with bubbling, chocolate-brown bark and fern-like ranks of flat needles, and fewer than a hundred wild adults exist. Propagated and planted worldwide as a conservation measure, it is the most famous ‘living fossil’ of modern botany.
Science & Biotechnology
Botanists studying the araucaria family regularly include Wollemia nobilis in comparative work, and the species also appears in horticultural trials aimed at gardeners and growers. The Wollemi pine has a real and extraordinary place in research. The practical point for growers is that this plant has been observed in gardens for so long that its behaviour holds few surprises.
Uses & Benefits
Wollemi Pine brings genuine presence to the garden and earns its keep across the growing season. The Wollemi pine is a tall, evergreen tree of remote gorges, bearing strange, bubbly bark and feathery, bright-green, fern-like foliage. To raise the Wollemi pine, sow seeds in pots of moist, open soil in a cool, bright place, keep them gently watered, and grow little trees on in the light. After the first season it asks for very little beyond a place that suits it.
The Wollemi pine is a living fossil rediscovered in Australia in 1994, a botanical sensation grown as a conservation treasure.
Growing from Seed
Wollemi Pine grows readily from seed. Sow thinly on the surface of a loose, well-drained seed compost, cover lightly, water in gently and keep the tray in a sunny spot with even moisture. Move strong seedlings into individual pots, keep them in good light, and set them out when the weather and their size agree.
Our Take
Wollemi Pine, Wollemi Tree is the kind of plant that rewards a permanent spot. Keep the sowing evenly moist at the start — that is the one real requirement.
Related Reading
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