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.
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“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.”
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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.
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