Wollemi nobilis W.G. Jones, K.D. Hill & J.M.Allen, 1995

Common name(s): Wollemi Pine

Family: Araucariaceae
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Plant
Plant
Taken by Ken Harrington at Sydney Botanic Gardens, New South Wales
Bark
Bark
Taken by Ken Harrington at Sydney Botanic Gardens, New South Wales
Leaf
Leaves
Taken by Ken Harrington at Sydney Botanic Gardens, New South Wales
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Plant Properties
Origin(s)
Australia
  • NSW: CT
Plant Type
Evergreen Conifer
Evergreen Conifer
Climate Range(s) - Habitat
Temperate Cool
Temperate Cool
Aspect Range(s)
Sun - Full, Shade - Dappled
Sun - Full,
Shade - Dappled
Habitat Range(s)
Garden, Landscape, Rainforest - Temperate
Garden,
Landscape,
Rainforest - Temperate
Habitat Zone(s)
Cliffs, Exposed Stony embankments, Gullies / Valley's / Canyon's, Moist Slopes, Rock crevices, Rocky, Sandy Moist, Well drained
Cliffs,
Exposed Stony embankments,
Gullies / Valley's / Canyon's,
Moist Slopes,
Rock crevices,
Rocky,
Sandy Moist,
Well drained
Mature Height
35-40m
35-40m
Mature Width
9-10m
9-10m
Plant Shape
Domed - Narrow
Domed - Narrow
Domed - Narrow Domed - Narrow
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Life Span
600-1000yrs
600-1000yrs
Leaf Properties
Colour (front)
Green Dark, Green Mid
Green Dark,
Green Mid
Colour (back)
Green Mid
Green Mid
Shape(s)
Linear
Linear
Linear Linear
Aroma
None
None
Texture (front)
Glabrous
Glabrous
Glabrous Glabrous
Texture (back)
Glaucous
Glaucous
Glaucous Glaucous
Leaf Length(s)
70-80mm
70-80mm
Margin
Entire
Entire
Entire Entire
Bark / Stem / Culm Properties
Colour(s) Upper
Brown Dark
Brown Dark
Colour(s) Lower
Brown Dark
Brown Dark
Texture(s) Upper
Lumpy / Papillate / Papillose
Lumpy / Papillate / Papillose
Rough / Scabrous
Rough / Scabrous
Lumpy / Papillate / Papillose Lumpy / Papillate / Papillose,
Rough / Scabrous Rough / Scabrous
Trunk / Stem Construction(s)
Wood Fibres / Solid
Wood Fibres / Solid
Wood Fibres / Solid Wood Fibres / Solid
Wood - Soft
Wood - Soft
Trunk / Stem / Culm Cross Section
Terete
Terete
Terete Terete
Flower Properties
Gender: Male
Time(s)
Spring - Summer Early
Flower Colour(s)
Red-brown
Red-brown
Flower Shape(s)
Coned Pollen Male
Coned Pollen Male
Coned Pollen Male Coned Pollen Male
Cone Oblong
Cone Oblong
Pollinator(s)
Wind
Wind
Male and Female Flowers, Borne
On Same Plant
On Same Plant
Gender: Female
Time(s)
Spring - Summer Early
Flower Colour(s)
Brown
Brown
Flower Shape(s)
Coned Sporophyll
Coned Sporophyll
Coned Sporophyll Coned Sporophyll
Cone Oval
Cone Oval
Aroma(s)
None
None
Pollinator(s)
Wind
Wind
Fruit Properties
Type
Cone Simple
Cone Simple
Cone Simple Cone Simple
Outer Colour(s)
Brown Light
Brown Light
Outer Texture
Rough / Scabrous
Rough / Scabrous
Rough / Scabrous Rough / Scabrous
Aroma
None
None
Maturation for Fruiting
10 yrs., 11 yrs.
10 yrs.,
11 yrs.
Root Properties
Type
Tap Plate
Tap Plate
Tap Plate Tap Plate
Invasiveness
Medium-High
Medium-High
Soil Properties
Type(s)
Sandy-loam, Sand, Hummus Rich, Organic Matter
Sandy-loam,
Sand,
Hummus Rich,
Organic Matter
pH Range(s)
Acid, Slightly Acid, Neutral
Acid,
Slightly Acid,
Neutral
Condition(s)
Moist
Moist
Moist Moist
Fertile , Poor , Deep , Well Drained
Fertile,
Poor,
Deep,
Well Drained
Salinities
None
None
None None
Waterlogging Class
W0 – Low tolerance
W0 – Low tolerance
Watering Requirements
WR3 - never let soil dry out, WR4 - allow soil to dry between watering
WR3 - never let soil dry out,
WR4 - allow soil to dry between watering
Other Properties / Uses
Bee Attraction
None
None
Bird Attraction
Habitat
Habitat
Butterfly Attraction
None
None
Frog Habitat
None
None
Coastal
None
None
Edible(s)
None
None
Fire Retarding
None
None
Drought Tolerance
Poor
Poor
Frost Tolerance
Good
Good
Snow Tolerance
Medium
Medium
Landscape Use
Moderate
Moderate
Maintenance(s)
Pruning - Periodical, Pruning - Shaping
Pruning - Periodical,
Pruning - Shaping
Pests/Diseases
Phytophthora cinnamomi, Scale
Phytophthora cinnamomi,
Scale
Special Purpose(s)
Coppiced, Foliage, Foliage-interesting, Interesting Trunk, Phytophthora Susceptible, Shade Tolerant, Shade tree-Medium, Shady Moist, Specimen
Coppiced,
Foliage,
Foliage-interesting,
Interesting Trunk,
Phytophthora Susceptible,
Shade Tolerant,
Shade tree-Medium,
Shady Moist,
Specimen
Wind Tolerance
Moderate Winds
Moderate Winds

General Notes

The species was known by fossil records only, until 1994 in steep-sided sandstone gorges of temperate rainforest wilderness area in NSW, Australia, it was dicovered growing. It is the worlds oldest and rarest plant. A critically endangered species, with approximately 50 adult and 200 juvenile plants in its natural area. One amazing feature is every plant in the wild has the exact same DNA. It was released to the public in 2006 through nurseries across Australia.

An unusual specimen tree for the large garden or landscape. Fast growing, up to half metre a year, and taking temperature as low as -12o up to 45oC. While it will take full sun when more mature, while it is less than ten years old it requires some light shade and a cool root run.

Male and female cones grow on the same tree with the female cone (125mm, globular) growing just above the male cone (110mm cylindrical). There are two types of branches, one grows upright like a trunk arising in most cases from the base of the tree and the other that grows laterally and bears sessile leaves.