Wollemia nobilis

[JakeK]

Anybody else order a Wollemi Pine from NGS? Mine came in the mail today. It's a little one. Most of the branches are taller than the leader. I guess they were shipped while in dormancy because mine has the "polar caps" that form over the buds to protect them. Foliage reminds me more of a podocarpus than an Araucaria.

Pictures soon!

[Cycadcenter]

We privately import 100 back in August from Australia which we mainly distributed to Botanical Gardens throughout the USA,  these were about 20" - 24" tall when imported.

We kept 10 for ourselves and they have grown well since then with the best about 3' tall now.

We also have over 200  at our place in Australia where we are starting to propagate them

IMG]http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h277/cycadcenter/ozmay2006318.jpg

IMG]http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h277/cycadcenter/ozmay2006318.jpg

Good luck growing them, I had a report from a client in North Carolina whose wollie burnt at 11 F.

[Cycadcenter]

Try those photos again

[JakeK]

Mine is going to stay a houseplant. I won't chance planting it in the ground. I would say it is a zone 8 tree at a minimum & I live in a zone 6 area.

The ones in your photos look great. Hopefully mine look like that in a year or so. I've read they put on decent growth which is not good for me because my A. heterophylla grew from a 24" houseplant to an 8' giant in 5 years. I had to cut it down this past year because it wouldn't fit in the house anymore. Hopefully my Wollemi doesn't grow that fast otherwise I will have to part with it in a few years.

[edbrown_III]

Do you think they can grow in North Florida or is it too hot?  

You will likely have plenty of buyers for it

Best regards,

Ed

[Zac in NC]

HOLY SH!T!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thats a ton of Wollemia. How are you able to propagate them, I thought I understood that there was a patent on them, not allowing any propagation other then the Wollemi Watch people, to use part of the money for preservation. This has been a hot topic on another Board I frequent.

Zac

[Cycadcenter]

Ed,

They would probably do just fine in Florida,  our ones growing in Queensland are doing just fine and have shot up in the past month or so.  

Zac,

The Wollemia nobilis is a natural occuring species and therefore cannot be patented,  I have checked with IP Australia who have assured me in writing there is NO PATENT of PBR on the plant any anyone anywhere can propagate them.

If you want to see some pretty lively discussion regarding the quality of the NG Plants join the WOLLEMIA Group on YAHOO

We plan to plant out about 150 on the farm in Childers for future seed production and are currently involved in a private propagation program and Tissue Culture program for very large scale production of the plants.

Drop me a PM please

Regard

[Bigfish]

Regarding the quality of NG plants...pitiful is all I can say.  Mine arrived last month, hacked all to pieces.  Luckily, it is growing nicely now in the greenhouse, and will probably outgrow its hackjob.  The central leader had been cut pretty low, and branch cuttings had also been taken.  Like Jake's, mine has branches that are much taller than the central leader.  Oh, I could go on about it, but at least I have one.  I just thought that for $120+ (with tax), NG would ship us out some nice-looking plants!  

Mine looks to have at least two leaders on it, possibly three.  After it grows out a bit, I'll take a couple of cuttings from the other leaders to try to get some plants with decent form.

[JakeK]

This trademark issue surrounding the Wollemi Pine is ridiculous. Isn't there a national park in Australia named Wollemi National Park? I guess the national park service in Australia is in violation of the trademark too. I really regret purchasing my W. nobilis from NGS (though I really believe NGS was only attempting to do a good thing by allowing for the retail sales of the Wollemi Pine on their website).

Plus, another thing that gets me is, since when is hardy to 10*F a zone 7 tree? I doubt this tree could sustain even a mild zone 7 winter year after year. Was this just a marketing tactic? Misleading if you ask me.

[chris.oz]

This is an outstanding plant in any terms.  

I did hear that the cuttings tend to take on the growth habit of the site from which they are taken :    Laterals tend to grow horizontal,  verticals are the ones to take .

Dont know if thats a definite thing though.  

The book on the discovery is a good read.   Its not War and Peace,  read it in 2 nights easy!

[Howeadypsis]

Nice trees! They look a bit like a yew or a podocarpus but are in fact relatives of the monkey puzzle(Araucaria)-Im surprised theyre in cultivation as I believe theyre still quite rare!

[chris.oz]

(Howeadypsis @ Jan. 22 2007,15:15)

QUOTE

Nice trees! They look a bit like a yew or a podocarpus but are in fact relatives of the monkey puzzle(Araucaria)-Im surprised theyre in cultivation as I believe theyre still quite rare!

Rare = Expensive

Here in Oz you can buy lots of 30 cm high Wollemi for around $50.    At 2 metres tall,  harder to come by.  But none the less they are available.

In our climate they grow from 10-20cm per year based on the one I have been observing.

On the Wollemi Pine Website they say this:

Growth

As a young plant, up to 18 months of age, a Wollemi Pine can grow half a metre a year perhaps reaching a height of 20m in its lifetime. A mature plant will grow around a metre a year. If the plant is not fertilized or kept in medium to low light conditions, it will grow more slowly.

[JimR]

I got mine as a Christmas present.  So far it seems healthy but no new growth.

[FossilNypa]

Wow! I have read about this tree in several sites and it really attracts my attention. Anyone knows any possibilities to send to Costa Rica, maybe in seeds??

[Mandrew968]

Any chance this grows in South Florida?

[Tropicgardener]

9 hours ago, Mandrew968 said:

Any chance this grows in South Florida?

Possibly survive but not grow well....... Much like most of the Queensland coast where they are planted. Very few do well, the summer heat and humidity doesn't do them any favours. So personally I wouldn't bother.

[BrianRBruning@gmail.com]

I'm in northern California zone 10a.  I'm trying to locate a plant.  I was able to find one in a five gal for $235 but that was on my phone a few days ago and I can't remember the nursery but it was in the USA.  California is pretty strict regarding out of state plants and San Marcos is no longer carrying them.  Seed is available as it was found 31 years ago so there should be some.  I'll as well check for seeds at some local botanical gardens .   If you know a grower esp. if in California shoot me out a message.  

[BrianRBruning@gmail.com]

On 1/19/2007 at 6:11 AM, JakeK said:

This trademark issue surrounding the Wollemi Pine is ridiculous. Isn't there a national park in Australia named Wollemi National Park? I guess the national park service in Australia is in violation of the trademark too. I really regret purchasing my W. nobilis from NGS (though I really believe NGS was only attempting to do a good thing by allowing for the retail sales of the Wollemi Pine on their website).

 

Plus, another thing that gets me is, since when is hardy to 10*F a zone 7 tree? I doubt this tree could sustain even a mild zone 7 winter year after year. Was this just a marketing tactic? Misleading if you ask me.

He was selling it in the USA as "Wollem Pine" which this other company had copy written.  Some people make a business of copy writing everything they can then offer to sell it for a million dollars.  This happened at Yosemite Natl Park  Names like "Curry", Awanee and so on were copy written before the Curry Co. lost their contract.  They sued and so the lodge isn't the Awanee Hotel anymore but now the Yosemite Grand Hotel" these b******s wanted some like $5 million for their copy written names.  What a bunch of hooey.  All their store items with the Awanee name from shot glasses, fleece jackets and blankets now go for $$$ on Ebay.