The Wollemi Pine

Also called The Dinosaur Tree

Sorry, but it's not a Western Australian tree.

A few years ago, I was surprised and excited to read about the Wollemi Pine, one of the world's oldest and rarest trees dating back around 200 million years. The oldest known fossil of this plant is around 90 million years old. With its fern or palm-like leaves and chocolate brown knobbly bark when mature, it's a beautiful and most unusual tree.

To have this exceptional plant in Australia is absolutely fantastic. To know that it was only discovered as late as 1994 is incredible, but believable. In Australia we have many areas where the terrain is almost impenetrable and that may be where all the treasures are located.  

How the Wollemi Pine was Found

David Noble, a keen bush walker and also a NSW National Parks and Wildlife Officer was trekking in the Greater Part of the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area when he stumbled upon something he had never seen before. Amazing, isn't it? It was fairly close to "civilisation" even if the area was almost inaccessible. You can read more on the official Wollemi Pine website.

Wollemi Pine (red geraniums in the background)

Buy Your Own Pre-Historic Plant

Did you know that you can buy a Wollemi Pine to have in your own home or garden? Let it grow and use it as your Christmas tree in a few years! It may not be available to buy in all countries of the world yet. In Perth you may find them at Waldeck's Nurseries.

If you keep it in a pot, it will be manageable, but if you plant it in your garden, you should be aware of that it may grow into a majestic tree.

I am all for conserving this incredible tree. Some months ago I bought one and have kept it in a pot in our Al Fresco area in Perth, Western Australia. The growth has been substantial. New lighter green leaves and shoots have formed. I love having my own prehistoric plant outside the doorstep and cannot wait to follow its development.

Incidentally, if Wollemi Pines have been around for 200 million years, maybe even I can keep mine alive. But, if, for some reason, things should go wrong, it may be that I have another "fossil" on my hands.

Update: Nearly two years later, my Wollemi Pine is still amongst the living and has grown. However, last summer with its dry heat made a few parts on some leaves go brown. 

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