RBGS FloraAeonium arboreum subsp. holochrysum Broadleaf Sugarbush (Protea eximia) Glandular Globe Thistle (Echinops sphaerocephalus) Grass Tree (Xanthorrhoea media) Jade Vine (Strongylodon macrobotrys) Koko (Soehrensia formosa) Lavender Queen (Leptospermum rotundifolium) Nepenthes mixta x maxima Orchids Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) Sago Cycad (Cycas revoluta) St Johns Wort (Hypericum oblongifolium) Spider Hibiscus / Japanese Lantern (Hibiscus schizopetalus) Wollemi Pine (Wollemia nobilis)

At the time of its discovery, the Wollemi Pine was one of the world’s rarest plants with only 38 known adult trees growing in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales. Pictured here in the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, are the first specimens ever planted out in public. Established Wollemi Pine can now be seen in botanic gardens and private gardens around Australia.

Wollemi Pine (Wollemia nobilis), Royal Botanic Garden Sydney NSW
Wollemi Pine (Wollemia nobilis) 2001, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney NSW

Discovered in 1994 by David Noble, a News South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service officer, who took a specimen of the tree to Mount Tomah Botanic Garden for identification. Since 1994 NSW NPWS and Royal Botanic Gardens staff have carried out research concerning its taxonomy, horticulture and ecology.

Source: The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney1
Wollemi Pine (Wollemia nobilis), Royal Botanic Garden Sydney NSW
Wollemi Pine (Wollemia nobilis) 2001, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney NSW

At the time they were planted out in cages, to allow them to establish and grow, as well as protection from damage and theft.

Wollemi Pine (Wollemia nobilis), Royal Botanic Garden Sydney NSW
Wollemi Pine (Wollemia nobilis) 2002, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney NSW
Wollemi Pine (Wollemia nobilis), Royal Botanic Garden Sydney NSW
Wollemi Pine (Wollemia nobilis) 2002, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney NSW
Wollemi Pine (Wollemia nobilis), Royal Botanic Garden Sydney NSW
Wollemi Pine (Wollemia nobilis) 2001, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney NSW
Wollemi Pine (Wollemia nobilis), Royal Botanic Garden Sydney NSW
Wollemi Pine (Wollemia nobilis) 2002, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney NSW

There are some great examples of the Wollemi Pine planted in various spots in the Blue Mountain Botanic Garden.


  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Plantae
  • Phylum: Tracheophyta
  • Class: Pinopsida
  • Order: Pinales
  • Family: Araucariaceae
  • Genus: Wollemia
  • Species: Wollemia nobilis

Footnote & References

  1. The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, https://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/
  2. Wollemi Pine (Wollemia nobilis), iNaturalistAU, https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/taxa/49381-Wollemia-nobilis
  3. The legendary Wollemi Pine, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Blog, https://blog.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/the-legendary-wollemi-pine/
  4. Wollemia nobilis — Wollemi Pine, Species Profile and Threats Database, Australian Government, http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=64545

RBGS FloraAeonium arboreum subsp. holochrysum Broadleaf Sugarbush (Protea eximia) Glandular Globe Thistle (Echinops sphaerocephalus) Grass Tree (Xanthorrhoea media) Jade Vine (Strongylodon macrobotrys) Koko (Soehrensia formosa) Lavender Queen (Leptospermum rotundifolium) Nepenthes mixta x maxima Orchids Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) Sago Cycad (Cycas revoluta) St Johns Wort (Hypericum oblongifolium) Spider Hibiscus / Japanese Lantern (Hibiscus schizopetalus) Wollemi Pine (Wollemia nobilis)

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