Wollemi Pine

Looks like a Wollemia nobilis from here ?

Lovely momento Fractal........

A lovely tree and thought.

Did I miss the name first time around, or have you added it since Fractal ?

I haven't changed a thing Bluespruce :-)

I just assumed you had missed the title as with a name like Bluespruce, you obviously like all Conifers including a fascinating relic Araucarian genus such as Wollemia.

I love the fact that it is proving hardy down to -12. When was the last time we had weather that cold. They think it may even be hardier still, remember that it had to come through the last ice age relatively recently where in south eastern Australia, it would have been very cold.

It looks a lovely shape. How large is it likely to grow????

Still not known over here. Most likely to around 100ft, though if in a sheltered spot, it may reach it's native height (140ft). There are several plantings in the south west and in mild, rainy Ireland (Eire and N. Ireland) so expect the maximum there!

"King Billy", the largest tree in Australia has multiple trinks and is over 1000 years old. :-)

Crikey. Are you hoping to last to see it reach 100ft??(Ha ha)

Well, I do eat oily fish twice a week lol! :-)

Oh well, it's a certainty then!! Perhaps you'll post a picture of you shinning to the top of it when it's 100ft tall!!

Will do!! :-)

~ I have had mine for a few years and they are slow growing!

Very pricey plants Arlene ? - Would like to see a photo of yours if you wouldn't mind posting one sometime ?

After a few years in the ground in good conditions they can put about 3ft a year in growth at the leader. I think the ones at Kew are averaging about 2ft a year so far judging by the planting ceremony pictures (2005) and current pictures of it sticking out of the metal thief proof frame the main specimen is in. Even the one planted by Prince Phillip a couple of years ago is going great guns too.

The price is dropping all the time too. You can get a foot tall plant for £35 and in the next few years this should become less still.

I'm have my doubts about it's vigour in a pot as I suspect the roots which though very fibrous are also very, very quick to fill a container. The one we planted at work was potted into a container about four times the size of the original in spring and planted this autumn. It had completely filled the container with dark, dense fibrous roots. One we have left (still in it's original pot) is starting to struggle and has made little growth. I will pot this on I think.

~ my husband bought mine for Christmas when we were in Kew's garden sales area in November 2007 for £99.It is in a very big pot but this year because It was at the front of the house which is shady it didn't grow so much as it did last year.
lt was in quite a small pot when bought but I will certainly check it out in the early spring~if it needs fresh soil and some of that Mycorrhizal enzyme stuff?~I got some last time I was at Kew and I will get a much bigger pot for it
There are at least two growing in Kew gardens and they are growing well.~also saw them at Eden when we were there last year.
Will try to get out and take a photo when it is not raining!

That slow growth in shade rings true Arlene. There are seedlings in the wild they reckon are twenty years old waiting for a gap to appear in the canopy!!!