
One of the world’s rarest trees—a prehistoric species that dinosaurs used to snack on—is bearing fruit for the first time after a retired couple planted it in their garden years ago.
Wollemi pines – dubbed dinosaur trees – date back more than 90 million years and were thought to have died out with T-Rex, but a cluster of the prehistoric conifers was discovered in 1994, in a steep-sided gorge 125 miles west of Sydney, Australia.
Saplings and cuttings were sold to help save the critically endangered species—and one was planted at the foot of the Malvern Hills in England by retired couple Pamela and Alistair Thompson.
The couple paid $93 (£70) for an 18-inch sapling, which a friend had picked up for her in 2010, and they planted it in their garden in Malvern, Worcestershire. Now, after years of loving care it stands more than 13-feet tall (4 meters).
Pamela was stunned this spring to discover the rare tree bearing fruit for the first time.
The 75-year-old now hopes the evergreen, which is not a pine, despite its common name, can be propagated to produce seeds which can be used to grow more of the genus Wollemia nobilis.
“It would be amazing, absolutely amazing, to have seedlings and to propagate from the world’s rarest tree.
“I couldn’t imagine being so lucky to do it.

“I saw a small tree for sale for more than $1,000 which shows just how rare they are.”
Wollemi pines are related to monkey puzzle trees and bear both male and female fruit. The long pendulous fruits are actually the male cone and the globular spiky fruits are the female cones.
“So what we’re really hoping later in the year would be to collect and germinate some of the seeds from it.
“That would be really something.”
CHECK OUT THIS FROM LAST YEAR: Dinosaur Evergreens Thought Extinct for 2Mil Years Discovered by Park Ranger–the Grove is the ‘Find of the Century’
Pamela and Alistair are opening their garden to the public as part of the National Garden Scheme on May 4, to allow other gardeners to see the special tree.
Wollemi Pine seedlings can be purchased for delivery to shipping addresses in Australia, here. They are available in the UK (but quite expensive at 5-6 feet tall) for pick-up here, however they are much less expensive in the UK when ordering fresh seeds on eBay here. But the online plant nurseries we saw for shipping in the US—after searching the internet for Wollemia nobilis—were all currently unavailable.
PLANT THE IDEA SEED in Minds of Gardening Friends By Sharing On Social Media…
The article about the tree is very positive – well done to the English couple for caring for it so well. However genuinely interested leave it alone don’t taken Mr. and Mrs Thompson, please be extremely careful to guard this tree when you allow the public into your garden to see it. The fact that the ‘dinosaur tree’ is so special, means that it will attract those who want something for nothing, as well as those who are genuinely interested to see it. DO NOT LEAVE IT ALONE FOR EVEN ONE SECOND. Admittedly people will be unable to literally uproot it and take it away, but some would hack it about to get as many cuttings as possible. I’m sorry to say all this, but apparently one can’t be too careful. Your garden is beautiful!
So cool!
I’m a Native American working on establishing a native plant farm. I’m involved in several projects to rebuild the population the American Chestnut tree. I would absolutely love to plant some of these trees, as they are the ancestors of all of our trees. It would be an honor to all of our forebearers globally to help in this wonderful endeavor. I live in the American South and I have rich, wet soil on the 33rd parallel. Please let me know if I can help. – James Strong-Oak
Hi Strong Oak, I added a paragraph since seeing your comment about purchasing these trees, so check out the
links in the story:
“Wollemi Pine seedlings can be purchased for delivery to shipping addresses in Australia, here. They are available in the UK (but quite expensive at 5-6 feet tall) for pick-up here, however they are much less expensive in the UK when ordering fresh seeds on eBay here. But the online plant nurseries we saw for shipping in the US—after searching the internet for Wollemia nobilis—were all currently unavailable.”