Healesville Plants general managers Tabitha Barclay and Karen Smith are taking orders for the Wollemi Pine, due out in April next year.By Dion Teasdale
PEOPLE living a rural lifestyle often have plenty of room to grow an array of native Australian trees and plants.
One of the latest native trees to be cultivated for the commercial market is the rare and ancient Wollemi Pine.
Having outlived the dinosaurs and survived 17 ice ages, the Wollemi Pine species will be available from Healesville Plants in Healesville, and Kuranga Native Nursery in Mt Evelyn early next year.
Previously only known through fossil records, the Wollemi Pine was thought to be extinct until explorer David Noble found it growing in the Wollemi National Park in 1994.
Less than 100 of the trees exist in the wild today and the tree has become both a flagship species for conservation and an Australian icon.
“The Wollemi Pine is not only attractive and striking in appearance, it is easy to grow and low- maintenance,” Healesville Plants general manager Karen Smith said.
“It will adapt to a diverse range of climatic zones, thriving in full sun to semi-shaded outdoor positions.
“It will also make an ideal feature tree for large gardens and parklands, but can be maintained in a pot on patios, verandahs and in courtyards.”
Ms Smith said owning a Wollemi Pine would be “like having a dinosaur in the garden”.
“It will make a unique special occasion gift, a great gift for Christmas, or a gift for the person who has everything,” she said.
The Wollemi Pine will be delivered to nurseries in April next year and will come in two sizes: A 150mm pot in which the plant will be about 40cm tall, and a 200mm pot in which the plant will be about 60cm tall.
The plants will be priced from $55 and $95 respectively.
For further information or to place an order, contact Healesville Plants on 5962 5570 or Kuranga Native Nursery on 9760 8100.
Alternatively, check out the website www.wollemipine.com
