(Wollemia nobilis)
First known from fossil records dating back more than 90-million years, the Wollemi Pine was initially thought a long-extinct piece of Australia’s ancient history. But then, astonishingly, a small grove of them was discovered in 1994 by a bushwalker in the Blue Mountains of NSW. Considered the botanical discovery of the century, a dedicated conservation effort has since been enacted to ensure their continued survival.
Now, you too can grow a piece of pre-history right in your own backyard.
A stunning conifer potentially soaring to 40-metres high and able to handle temperatures from -5 to 45°C, Wollemi Pines are fast growing when planted in full sun and are an undeniable work of natural art, serving as both an incredible feature tree and a fascinating talking point.
But fear not if their potential 40-metre height seems daunting: Wollemi Pines can be maintained in pots almost indefinitely, limiting their size, making them more manageable and allowing even those with extremely limited outdoor spaces to grow their own piece of history.
HEARTWARMING FACT:
So historically and botanically important are Wollemi Pines that during the giant Gospers Mountain fire of 2019-2020, a special operation by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and NSW Rural Fire Service helped save these once-thought-extinct trees from actual extinction.
