Fire suppression system saved the rare Wollemi pine habitat.

[Stihlmadd]

Wollemi pine, (Wollemia nobilis), rare evergreen tree, a member of the conifer family Araucariaceae and the only member of its genus. Wollemi pinewas found in 1994 growing in a remote canyon in Wollemi National Park, about 200 km (120 miles) northwest of Sydney. This remarkable tree escaped discovery by earlier botanists in part because the only canyon system in which trees grow is bounded by tall sandstone cliffs, and access to the plants requires use of a helicopter or climbing gear. Fewer than 100 adult trees and a few hundred seedlings presently survive in the canyon’s moist sheltered microclimate; their location is kept secret to avoid the introduction of pathogens. The trees were threatened by a bushfire that burned most of Wollemi National Park during the devastating 2019–20 fire season, but a desperate military-style firefighting operation managed to protect the species from possible extinction. The species is listed as critically endangered by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, though a number are cultivated in botanic gardens and private collections around the world.

 

[SeanRuel]

Love hearing about trees thought to be extinct, then rediscovered. Thanks, very cool

 

[evo]

I’ve had the privilege of training a few of these. Keep trying to remember to try to layer a codom leader, to bring home and plant at my place. Any clue if they will air layer?

 

[Basswood]

I’ve had the privilege of training a few of these. Keep trying to remember to try to layer a codom leader, to bring home and plant at my place. Any clue if they will air layer?

Do you know what zones they can handle? I heard spotty stuff about 7 but can’t remember if it was for the Wollemi or if I am mixing them up.

 

[Stihlmadd]

I’ve had the privilege of training a few of these. Keep trying to remember to try to layer a codom leader, to bring home and plant at my place. Any clue if they will air layer?

apologies Evo but I have not heard of any clones being done - at least not outside the csiro labs anyways ,
certainly will be interested if you do attempt to air layer a specimen

 

[evo]

Do you know what zones they can handle? I heard spotty stuff about 7 but can’t remember if it was for the Wollemi or if I am mixing them up.

I’m not sure. The one main one I have seen regularly (one of the first 100 in the states) has lived outdoors in a pot here. While we are zone 8a-b it’s not unheard of dipping down to the teens every 5 years or so give or take. Last cold snap like that was 3 years ago, and it did just fine

 

[Basswood]

I’m not sure. The one main one I have seen regularly (one of the first 100 in the states) has lived outdoors in a pot here. While we are zone 8a-b it’s not unheard of dipping down to the teens every 5 years or so give or take. Last cold snap like that was 3 years ago, and it did just fine

Yeah I’m thinking it’s too cold here, but I may try it in a pot and put outside during summers.

if you ever collect seed and can spare a few I’d love to take some off your hands.

 

[evo]

Yeah I’m thinking it’s too cold here, but I may try it in a pot and put outside during summers.

if you ever collect seed and can spare a few I’d love to take some off your hands.

Our local nursery had about a dozen of them for sale last year. The price tag was insane... the one I know of is about 4’ and a ways out from producing cones

 

[colb]

I read the Wikipedia article on them. Super cool. Thanks for posting.

 

[colb]

Do you know what zones they can handle? I heard spotty stuff about 7 but can’t remember if it was for the Wollemi or if I am mixing them up.

The Wikipedia article notes that they survive pretty low temperatures, with the lowest being a winter exposure in Scotland.

 

[Basswood]

The Wikipedia article notes that they survive pretty low temperatures, with the lowest being a winter exposure in Scotland.

That’s pretty intriguing. The closest I’ve found so far is zone 8. If I got a bunch to germinate I’d definitely experiment.

 

[colb]

That’s pretty intriguing. The closest I’ve found so far is zone 8. If I got a bunch to germinate I’d definitely experiment.

From wikipedia:

It is also proving to be more adaptable and cold-hardy than its restricted temperate-subtropical, humid distribution would suggest, tolerating temperatures between −5 and 45 °C (23 and 113 °F), with reports, from Japan and the USA, that it can survive down to −12 °C (10 °F). A grove of Wollemi pines planted in Inverewe Garden, Scotland, believed to be the most northerly location of any successful planting, have survived temperatures of −7 °C (19 °F), recorded in January 2010.[23]

Citation 23 is:
[23] "Jurassic tree survives big chill in trust garden". BBC. 2010-11-01. Retrieved 2010-01-13.

 

[Basswood]

From wikipedia:

It is also proving to be more adaptable and cold-hardy than its restricted temperate-subtropical, humid distribution would suggest, tolerating temperatures between −5 and 45 °C (23 and 113 °F), with reports, from Japan and the USA, that it can survive down to −12 °C (10 °F). A grove of Wollemi pines planted in Inverewe Garden, Scotland, believed to be the most northerly location of any successful planting, have survived temperatures of −7 °C (19 °F), recorded in January 2010.[23]

Citation 23 is:
[23] "Jurassic tree survives big chill in trust garden". BBC. 2010-11-01. Retrieved 2010-01-13.

Yeah but dropping down to 7a is quite the jump down to 0-5F. Still, with the right scenario I’d give it a shot.

 

[colb]

Yeah but dropping down to 7a is quite the jump down to 0-5F. Still, with the right scenario I’d give it a shot.

This is where I have to let you do your thing. I'm in Florida.