Can I grow it indoors?

It is best suited for outdoors, but can be kept in a cool, bright sunroom while young.

How fast does it grow?

It is a slow to moderate grower in cultivation.

Plant guide

Wollemi pine.

Wollemia nobilis

Pronounced wo-LEE-mee-uh NO-bi-lis

Also known as Wollemi Pine, Wollemi-pine

The Wollemi pine is a rare, ancient conifer that survived from the time of the dinosaurs. It features a unique, bubbly bark and lush, fern like foliage. It is a true living fossil that makes a striking addition to a large garden or conservatory.

At a glance

Care level: Moderate
Plant type: Conifer
Light: Partial shade to bright indirect light
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 5 to 10 days
Mature size: 12 to 40 meters
Growth rate: Slow
Hardiness: USDA 8 to 11
Bloom time: Late spring to early summer

Care

Keep the soil consistently moist but never waterlogged to mimic its native rainforest habitat. Watch for browning needle tips, which often signal that the plant is getting too much direct sun or drying out too quickly. It prefers cooler temperatures and good air circulation to stay healthy.

Watering: Keep the soil evenly damp to the touch without letting it sit in standing water.
Feeding: Use a low phosphorus, slow release fertilizer during the active growing season.
Pruning: Only prune to remove dead or damaged branches to maintain its natural shape.
Repotting: Repot only when the roots have filled the container as it prefers not to be disturbed.
Soil: Well draining, acidic, organic rich soil
Soil pH: 5.0 to 6.5
Temperature: -5 to 40°C
Humidity: 40 to 70%
Drought tolerance: Low
Lifespan: Perennial, can live for hundreds of years.
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage holes.
Water sitting on the surface of the soil for too long.
The plant stops showing new growth during the spring.

Safety

People: There is no evidence of toxicity in humans.
Children: The sharp tips of the leaves can poke small children, so place it away from high traffic areas.
Contact allergens: The stiff, needle-like leaves can cause minor skin scratches during handling.
Airborne allergens: The pollen may cause mild reactions in sensitive individuals.
Edibility: The cones and foliage are not considered edible for humans.

How to identify it

Dark green, fern like leaves
Distinctive bubbly, chocolate brown bark
Multi trunked growth habit
Cones grow at branch tips

Height: 10 to 40m
Spread: 3 to 10m
Leaves: dark green, bright green, evergreen
Flowers: brown, green, 1 to 3cm
Fruit: brown, Autumn

Problems to watch for

PhytophthoraCommon
Root RotCommon
Leaf ScorchUncommon
Scale InsectsUncommon

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: cuttings, seed
When to plant: spring, autumn
Overwintering: Move containerized plants to a frost-free, cool location if temperatures drop significantly below freezing. Ensure the soil remains slightly moist but never waterlogged during the dormant months.
In containers: It grows well in large containers for many years, provided the pot has excellent drainage and is at least 40 centimeters wide.

Cuttings

Take semi-hardwood cuttings in late summer.
Dip the base in rooting hormone.
Place in a well-draining potting mix.
Maintain high humidity until roots form.

Group this tree with other moisture-loving, shade-tolerant Australian natives to mimic its natural canyon habitat.

Grows well with

Tree Fern · They share similar requirements for moisture and sheltered, dappled light.
Lomandra · This native grass provides a nice textural contrast at the base of the tree.

Similar species

Norfolk Island Pine · It is a close relative with a similar growth habit and needle structure.
Monkey Puzzle Tree · Another ancient conifer that shares the same family and prehistoric aesthetic.

Science

Family: Araucariaceae
Genus: Wollemia
Order: Pinales
Class: Pinopsida
Native range: Wollemi National Park, New South Wales, Australia.
Conservation: This species is critically endangered in the wild and is protected under international law.

It survives in deep, sheltered sandstone gorges where it benefits from high humidity and protection from extreme winds.

Value to wildlife: ancient evolutionary relic
Pollinators: beetles
Uses: ornamental specimen, botanical collection

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 1/9
Soil reaction: 4/9
Light: 6/9
Temperature: 5/9
Moisture: 6/9
Nutrients: 4/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Can I grow it indoors?: It is best suited for outdoors, but can be kept in a cool, bright sunroom while young.
How fast does it grow?: It is a slow to moderate grower in cultivation.

Where the name comes from

The genus name honors the Wollemi National Park, while the species epithet nobilis refers to the noble appearance of the tree.

Good to know

It is often called a living fossil.
The bark has a unique texture that looks like bubbling chocolate.
It can produce multiple trunks from a single root system.
It belongs to the Araucariaceae family, which dates back to the Jurassic period.

Also in

Plants for shade

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This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.