Growing it

Commercial propagation

There has been worldwide interest in and demand for the Wollemi Pine as a garden plant. As part of a strategy for Protecting it, research into its horticultural development and commercial propagation conducted at Mount Annan Botanic Garden will allow the plant to be widely available. So far the plant is proving to be a good pot and garden plant.

In March 1999 the Queensland Forestry Research Institute and Birkdale Nursery were selected as the successful partners of a consortium for commercialisation on behalf of the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney and the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. Queensland Forestry are propagating and growing them, and Birkdale will market them, under Wollemi Pine International,  in Australia and overseas.

Plants have been available from Botanic Gardens Shops in Sydney, Mount Annan and Mount Tomah or selected nurseries in Australia since 1 April 2006. 

Seeds & cuttings

Unfortunately, relatively few seeds are produced and they are extremely difficult to collect (nets need to be set up underneath the trees). Research on seed germination and seedling growth has started and Wollemi Pine seeds are in storage in the NSW Seedbank at Mount Annan (where they’re researching the best storage method) and some are also being stored in the Millennium Seedbank at Kew in the UK.

Mount Annan researchers have developed methods for propagating the Wollemi Pine by cuttings, and the Queensland Forestry Research Institute is developing mass propagation techniques. Interestingly, cuttings taken from the lateral branches produce a delightful prostrate (low growing) plant suitable as a spreading pot plant or ground cover.

Horticultural needs

The Wollemi Pines have been growing from seeds and cuttings under the watchful eyes of the Conservation and Horticultural Research team at Mount Annan Botanic Garden since early 1995. Monitoring of plants in both pots and the ground shows that they grow surprisingly fast for conifers.

After an initial slow start, cultivated seedlings grow to about 1 metre after 3 years with a diameter near the base of about 30 millimetres.

Wollemi Pines planted out in other locations are also being monitored for their growth rate and their growth habits.

On average they're growing around half a metre a year, although growth in the wild is much, much slower (see ecology). They start growing in early spring and really only grow upwards for around two months. After that they concentrate their energy on growing outwards.

This species favours acid soil - in their habitat the pH is as low as 4, and in potted cultivation their favour a pH of less than 6.

Although their habitat soil is naturally low in nutrients, the Wollemi Pines respond well to fertiliser. A range of potting mix requirements and levels and types of fertilisers is being trialed.

Young plants in cultivation need some protection from strong light provided by shade cloth or the shelter of other trees.

Notes on care for planted and potted Wollemi Pines have been put together by Wollemi Australia, click here for details.

Wollemi Pine seeds on average are 11 mm long and 8.5 mm wide and 1.5 mm thick.

Cuttings in glasshouse under fog developing roots. 

Wollemi Pine pot plant from cutting encouraged to form a bush appearance, making an ideal pot plant.

Four-year-old Wollemi Pine potted seedling, with Mount Annan in the background.