
07/11/2025
An ancient tree species known as the Wollemi pine, often called the “dinosaur tree,” has recently borne fruit for the first time in recorded history. According to Interesting Engineering, the Wollemi pine dates back around 200 million years to the time of the dinosaurs. It was thought to be extinct until its dramatic rediscovery in 1994 in a remote canyon in Wollemi National Park, Australia. Since then, conservationists have worked to protect and propagate this critically endangered species.
In a remarkable development, a Wollemi pine planted by a retired couple in Worcestershire, England, has produced fruit for the first time. This is a major milestone in conservation, as it opens the door to collecting seeds and growing new trees. The tree, which now stands over 13 feet tall, was grown from a sapling purchased in 2010 and nurtured for over a decade. The fruiting event includes both male cones (long and pendulous) and female cones (round and spiky), which could lead to viable seeds later this year.
This success is part of a broader global effort to preserve the Wollemi pine by distributing genetically diverse specimens to botanical gardens and private growers. With only a few dozen mature trees left in the wild, this fruiting event is a hopeful sign that the species may have a future beyond extinction.