Giving rare Wollemi pine trees - the ‘dinosaur tree’ - a hopeful future

[@boydwyatt]

I,m in Northern NSW Australia, the border ranges. Our property had one planted next to the creek over 15 years ago. Its now nearly 40 feet tall. Survived a 5 year drought and frequenr floods. Now i,m waiting for it to seed soon. If not it has branching growth near the base to clone. Its the most amazing and beautiful treasure on our farm. I show it of proudly to everyone.

[@mikeharrington5593]

Great

[@lunch2102]

Do you think cloning is possible?

[@boydwyatt]

Apparently it is, might give it a go from the lower trunk branchings.

[@johninlondon6659]

Hello to this group of Wollemi appreciators. I'm a regular visitor to Trebah Gardens on the Helston Estuary, Cornwall UK, where I came across several naturalised Wollemi doing very well. They're warmed here by the Gulf Stream and protected from Atlantic gales by the deep valley in which the gardens are situated. It's a home to many botanical marvels and has a rich, rare collection of many indigenous plants - one of the most beautiful I know. I bought a Wollemi seedling at their nursery and brought it back to my garden in North London where it has been thriving for 12 years. It's now 3 metres tall and growing. I planted it in a deep brick-lined sump to contain its roots so it wouldn't take over the house and neighbourhood. It bears fruit every two years on a regular basis but the harvested seeds haven't germinated. Would one of the expert readers on this website kindly clarify if it's monoecious or dioecious? I would be pleased to post some photographs if I knew how to post them up. Good wishes to all and especially to those protecting the future.

[@steviebumpke1774]

Wonderful tree. I would love to have a copy in my Aboretum here in Germany. My great-grandfather and grandfather collected trees. There are now almost 50 different tree species on 70 hectares. A lot of them over 120 years old. Mainly conifers. I followed in their footsteps. I do this without any economic interest. Just to give trees a place to live. I can understand her passion very well. :) A never-ending project. I just can't stop.

[@KiwiCatherineJemma]

Point of interest...The Wollemi (Wollemia nobilis). is sometimes described as "the Missing Link" which links the nowadays more common, Eastern Australian through to South and Central American Araucaria "pines" (BunyaBunya, Hoop, Norfolk Island, Chilean Monkey Puzzle) with New Zealand's native "Kauri" (Agathis australis). Here in NZ, Wollemi pines have been occasionally available for $400 each, with a portion of the funds going into conservation efforts for the tree. However for folks that want a "somewhat similar" tree (with funny looking frond/scale leaves) , then consider growing any other of the Southern Hemisphere Araucaria or Agathis species. (Subject to your local climate). The Chilean Monkey Puzzle tree. (Araucaria araucana) is native to a wide area of Central and Southern Chile, but has been widely introduced elsewhere and is likely one of the most cold tolerant types. Being planted for hundreds of years throughout Britain including Scotland. With specimens growing well in The Falkland Islands, some hundreds of miles South East of Chile , it seems likely they'd do well throughout Scottish and Irish islands if planted there.. Note the seeds are edible. (Brazil and other countries have their own slightly different varieties available). Queensland Bunya Bunya pine (Araucaria bidwillii) from high rainfall, warm mild subtropical Southern QLD and Northern NSW is cold tolerant enough to grow well in Christchurch New Zealand, a thousand miles or more South of it's normal range, in Australia. Decades old trees in Chch NZ attest that it can survive Winters with some regular short frosts, plus the occasional longer freezes that come with 5 yearly or 10 yearly snowfalls. Female trees bear large basketball size cones filled with over 100 Brazil Nut size edible seeds. Norfolk Island Pine (Araucaria excelsior) comes from the subtropical Norfolk island, located in the sea between Queensland Australia and Northern New Zealand. The branches have a regular layer cake look. These trees can tolerate frontline sea coast exposure, planted within 2 metres, 6 feet of the high tide mark, in some cases. Fully salty blast sea air doesn't seem to harm them. They can grow up into the fully tropical zones. Although native subtropical, they can tolerate small hints of frost. Again, for comparison they can grow in Chch NZ, including surviving occasional snowfall events. It's worth noting that they would not survive a Winter in a garden outside here, during my childhood, but a small amount of Global Warming has meant they can now survive. Note that all of the Southern Hemisphere pines have edible seeds. Cones are borne only on female, or rarely , hermaphrodite trees. Propagation is usually from seed, but I have heard tip cuttings from the growing stem are possible. Tip cuttings from branch tips are also theoretically possible, but the resulting plant may be more interested in growing horizontally instead. New Zealand's native Kauri (Agathis australis) was previously native to NZ's subtropical Northern North Island. Sprouted and grown up to a decent size, Planted specimens do succeed in parts far more Southerly such as Chch in the South Island. I haven't heard if the seeds are edible or not. If you cannot find or afford a Wollemi to grow, please consider one of her close cousins.

[@xostler]

Thank you for giving me so many other trees to start researching!

[@dinkohrvat344]

There is one planted in the Zagreb Botanic Garden in Croatia . It is in a massive wire cage with lock and key . There is a plaque saying it is a birth day present for her husband . I assume it can cope with snow ?? Amazing to see this growing in Croatia !!!!

[@mikeharrington5593]

I love Australia's Bunya-Bunya (Aracauria Bidwilli) pine. Not as rare as the Wollemi pine but some majestic specimens in Brisbane's Botanic Gardens

[@tamararoutledge4273]

A gorgeous beautiful tree, loved the video, and am glad these trees are being looked after and cared for.

[@ForestryEngland]

Thank you for your kind words and support! We're glad you enjoyed the video and share our love for these trees. They're truly special, and we're committed to their care. Have a wonderful day! 🌳

[@grumbeard]

Had the privilege seeing one of these trees in eastern scotland in a botanical garden. They really are a beautiful thing. I know they want to have them in more wild places but I am intrigued about their use as a houseplant.

[@loumclifton]

This is great!

[@BonsaiCornwall]

Fantastic video! How can I get a Wollemi? I want to teach my audience about them.

[@ForestryEngland]

Hello! These Wollemi pines are part of the international ‘metacollection’ of trees specially propagated by our partners at Botanic Gardens of Sydney. These are being planted in specially selected botanic gardens around the world where the conditions are right for them to flourish. Unfortunately, they are not available for people to buy for private gardens or available commercially. Other Wollemi pine trees are available from plant growers and suppliers in the UK, but they are not part of this new collection of genetically diverse trees - Thank you.

[@BonsaiCornwall]

@@ForestryEngland thank you your your time to reply! Very helpful 😊

[@netdog713]

Have they thought about planting them on Green Mountain on Ascension Island? 🤔

[@keef78]

i was recently touching and admiring a tree down in victoria and didnt realise what it was until my friend said "thats the dino tree", lol.

[@katiaplantscientist]

Excellent and informative film, thank you for sharing this! I'm excited to learn that these trees will survive in the UK. Do you have any tips on selecting a suitable habitat for a Wollemi Pine in your own garden / property in the UK? I'd like to add one to my Mini Forest but I'm concerned about not planting it in the right place.

[@ForestryEngland]

Hi Katia, the trees at our site are part of a collection of genetically diverse Wollemi pines planted by partners worldwide. Unfortunately, we cannot advise on commercial plants - Thank you.

[@erikdragons492]

A large pine of this species broke in a storm at Manuka park hawaii last month.

[@specialized29er86]

Off all places there's a big plantation of them in England.

[@janiebarker2687]

❤

[@eduardovalduga1983]

How can I grow in southern Brazil, we have Araucaria angustifolia here

[@ryushogun9890]

Can you consume the sap or the pine cones? If you could I'd buy to plant here.

[@user-mg5zj9ee7d]

I want to get a few for the botanic gardens in denver.

[@johnkeviljr9625]

Where would they survive in the US? I would foster as many as possible.

[@VaughnFamily-r5k]

Can these grow in Southwest Florida

[@johntouchet7178]

Would the French Antarctic Islands (Kerguelen) make an appropriate place for Wollemi pines? I read that explorers in past centuries stripped those islands of trees that roughly resemble Wollemi pines.

[@KiwiCatherineJemma]

Kerguelen Islands are at 49 Degrees South Latitude, so probably far too cold for the subtropical Wollemi Pine. I'm not certain, but I always thought that the islands were naturally tree-less before being discovered by European sailors. The modern day French Government did atom bomb testing there in the past and parts are considered dangerously radioactive. I think the islands are uninhabited, except possibly some scientists rostered to live on some non-radioactive islands doing research. I haven't been there myself to plant any trees, and I doubt if French authorities have planted any. People, including governments and societies seem to like and prefer living in tree-less desert-like landscapes... go figure. (Like the almost tree-less hills of Scotland, Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland Islands and the Yorkshire forests, sorry 'Moors'. )

[@davidriggenbach6672]

Are they sold in United States? I would love to get one!

[@ForestryEngland]

Hi David, the Wollemi pines in this video are part of the international ‘metacollection’ of trees specially propagated by our partners at Botanic Gardens of Sydney. These are being planted in specially selected botanic gardens around the world and are not available for people to buy. However, other Wollemi pine trees are available from other plant growers and suppliers - Thank you.

[@catholic3dod790]

Why did Australia send and sell the trees to UK? Why not the world? 😮 Come on.

[@plainsabertooth7828]

Where can I get those seeds?

[@colbyobxtt]

I have tried to get one here to the United States. If anyone knows thank you!

[@Fists4Fitness]

😍😍

[@zoonvandebaas]

I will own one, one day 😂 a man can dream

[@jczer1972]

My wife will end me if I buy another tree. Where do I get one? 😁

[@666toysoldier]

Usurping the "dinosaur tree" name from the ginkgo.

[@yindao2830]

Just imagine if this tree was a conduit of disease and they plan on spreading these around the world.

[@YECBIB]

Give God credit for His design. No such thing as millions of years ago.

[@Facilitate.Inform]

We should be focusing our scientific and organizing efforts on preserving the human species, as WE face extinction in the next 1.5 decades.

[@tinytan6559]

You have to lack something to believe that

[@Facilitate.Inform]

@@tinytan6559 scientific consensus says we have a couple decades before ecosystems and heat get outta hand. Just sayin... we need to prioritize at a certain point

[@shadetreader]

If humans go extinct, it will be because we allowed capitalism to destroy the only home we have. Saving the Earth is the same as saving ourselves.

[@therealpeter2267]

@@Facilitate.Inform by conserving wildlife we are saving the human species. We are facing extinction because we ruined wildlife. Further negligence will not save the species but accelerate the process.

[@Facilitate.Inform]

@@therealpeter2267 planting trees will not meet the existential crisis of global warming, we need industrial level change at this point, HARD caps on emissions, strictly enforced by law. We are pumping more fossil fuels from the Earth than ever before.

[@blakespower]

dinosaur tree stop calling it that! true Pine trees are just as old if not older!

[@davidriggenbach6672]

True, but the remarkable feature of this tree is that it is one of the few species in the pinopsida class that retained such primitive features while pine trees evolved. Imagine a platypus of the plantae kindom.

[@MrsBrit1]

A pine tree isn't a clone. It is grown from a seed from its parent tree and a new tree grows. The Wollemi is a clonal species and the original group is estimated to have been growing for 90 million years, so was literally beginning its life among the dinosaurs.

[@CitizenAyellowblue]

Pay attention to what is being said.

[@YECBIB]

Take off the face diapees

[@jamesetal7088]

Sphagnum, which the tree roots are being wrapped in, can contain the fungus spore Sporotrichosis. This can be inhaled in the very fine dust generated. As a general rule wearing plastic gloves and a face mask is recommended when handling Sphagnum moss.