Torreya taxiflolia

[palmsOrl]

For sale is one two foot tall unsexed Torreya taxifolia.  This is a rare conifer native to a very small range in the Florida Panhandle and SE Georgia.  Since that photo was taken, the tree has been potted in appropriate substrate in a nice, heavy, decorative ceramic pot and is yours for $35.  Local pickup anywhere within 30 miles of the Orlando area.  

This species has been growing well at Leu Gardens in Orlando for a number of years and should do well in our area.

Please pm my with questions or inquiries.

-Michael

[fishmanejr]

I PM'd you about whether you're willing to ship this plant - please let me know!

[amh]

Neat specimen, are they as susceptible to fungal blights as commonly described?

[palmsOrl]

I am not sure AMH, that is a good question.  This species is thought to be a relict species trapped in its current range from higher latitudes by the last Ice Age and that it is best suited to a cooler climate than it experiences in its native range.  There has been an ongoing effort for a number of years to relocate its native range to mountainous Western NC and I had good luck growing it in SE PA, borderline zone 7b/8a and it had some burn from -5F and two weeks in the deep freeze with highs in the teens and it was in a pot, but it survived with damage.  As a result, I would say Torreya taxifolia is good from 7a-9b (10a which Orlando is now is pushing it but it seems to be okay here because we get a bit of winter chill, much more than say inland Southwest Florida 10a.

[amh]

I've been fond of this species for some time, but would never plant it in my alkaline part of Texas, as well as the availability issues. Would love to see how both Torreya taxifolia and Taxus floridana grow throughout the PNW and Appalachian rain forest. Cheers to whoever buys this plant.

[edbrown_III]

I  will buy it if you will hold it til I can get down there --- it may be a few dayz 

 

I can prepay 

 

 

Ed

[palmsOrl]

My Torreya taxifolia has been sold.  I have sellers remorse, but hey, if it will go to a good home, then I am happy.

-Michael

[PalmatierMeg]

Glad it found a new home. Another species I can't grow here.

[SailorGirlFl]

On 10/29/2021 at 7:16 PM, palmsOrl said:

For sale is one two foot tall unsexed Torreya taxifolia.  This is a rare conifer native to a very small range in the Florida Panhandle and SE Georgia.  Since that photo was taken, the tree has been potted in appropriate substrate in a nice, heavy, decorative ceramic pot and is yours for $35.  Local pickup anywhere within 30 miles of the Orlando area.  

This species has been growing well at Leu Gardens in Orlando for a number of years and should do well in our area.

Please pm my with questions or inquiries.

-Michael

I'm interested, if still available 

[redbeard917]

I'd recommend trying this species if you're thinking about it. I've planted several and all did well. They are available in 1 and 3 gallon ($25 and $55 or so) from Native Nurseries in Tallahassee, FL. I planted mine in shade and eventually transplanted it roughly into full sun and it didn't miss a beat.

[redbeard917]

This torreya was planted from a 1 gallon a few years ago in full sun in red clay on a golf course. This is in Tallahassee, FL. For some reason it has always been very full and dense with a very sparse tall leader above.

[ThunderSRQ]

This is also available from Mailordernatives.com (and currently in stock - though they often are on a wait list).  After seeing the really nice one growing at Leu Gardens, I'm going to try one here in zone 9B Sarasota (under high live oak canopy and as protected from afternoon sun as possible). 

And since the goal is to get this tree established outside of it's very small native range (due to a disease issue that's really impacting the population there), I also got a couple for relatives that live in NW Florida and Central Louisiana.

 

Tim

[redbeard917]

Those look great. The tree has a different (but equally nice) look in shade. There is a 10' specimen on the grounds of the retail nursery I mentioned. It is growing in shade and has more spacing between the branches and a conical form like a Christmas tree.