Ancient Wonder from Down Under
Narrowly escaping extinction, Wollemi pine was discovered in 1994 in a deep, rainforest gorge in the Wollemi National Park (New South Wales, Australia). Fewer than 100 of these majestic conifers survive in the wild, where they can reach heights up to 130' tall. Some may be more than 1000 years old.
Wollemia noblis is the sole living member of its genus with fossil records dating back 90 million years. This relative of Norfolk Island pine belongs to the 200-million-year-old Araucariaceae plant family, which dates back to the time of the dinosaurs. Conservation efforts are underway to preserve this species by propagating and distributing it to similar climates worldwide.
Sign Sponsored by the Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust