Cook's Gondwana Pines fed the dinosaurs

Araucaria columnaris grew before the continents divided when Australia, South America, South Africa, India, Antarctica and New Zealand split apart and moved north, south, east and west of Australia. Predating eucalypts by 160-million years, Cook’s Pine grew at the time of gingkos, horsetails and ferns. It’s taller than a Catholic Church or a proverbial 10-storey building and yet it takes up just two metres of space to fit into the tiniest backyard.

Far more resilient than the Wollemi Pine
The 10-year promotion of the Wollemi Pine as a Gondwanaland survivor had huge success, but not all trees have survived. Irresponsibly hyped because of the special growing conditions needed for success,
the Wollemi Pine is unsuitable for nearly every Australian backyard.
The few remaining living specimens of this ancient tree were discovered at the base of a canyon protected from hot northerlies, with its roots fed from a running creek.
Only gardeners with passion, like those at our botanic gardens, can give it that sort of attention to survive. 

However there is a magnificent, ancient, but completely resilient and proven survivor that will thrive in every backyard, even in the tiniest, inner-city courtyard.

How can we be so sure?

Cook’s Pine is as ancient as the Wollemi Pine, but this tree currently thrives in all parts of Australia. Growing in sand, coral or soil, exposed to salty gales and windswept, coastal parts in all areas of Australia, it has survived for over 200-million-years, through cyclones, ice ages and droughts. As witness to its resilience, there is a 45m tall specimen planted 148 years ago in the Brisbane botanic garden that is still in excellent health.At our Heronswood garden, the largest (not the tallest) specimen we have ever seen thrives with far larger biomass than any seen in New Caledonia. This huge specimen, approximately 120-years-old, is protected by The Diggers Foundation and is listed on the Significant Tree Register.

Did Dr Seuss design these silent triffids?
Walking through natural forests (on the Ile des Pins of New Caledonia, where some specimens reach 60m tall) 

is as awe inspiring as the Giant Sequoias of California.
Reaching to over 30m tall in most botanic gardens in Australia, but taking up only two metres of ground, this spectacular, prehistoric pine is like a living garden flagpole that promises to become as memorable throughout Australia as the Italian Cypress is in Tuscany.

Climate guarantee – Diggers selection

When you plant a tree in a warming climate it is vital that you plant a long-lived tree that thrives when conditions are forecast to become hotter and more humid. That this tree and its genus has survived so long is a testament to its survivability and adaptability to a warming climate.

Plant instead of Norfolk Island Pines

One of the most intriguing aspects of this tree, compared to its bulkier, ultra-common cousin (the Norfolk Island Pine) which is ideally suited for public parks and straight avenues, is that most tend to point towards north, as is evident with the specimen at Heronswood.This slight imperfect bend gives each tree great character.
Whilst visiting Noumea’s magnificent Tjibaou Cultural Centre recently (designed by Renzo Piano), it became clear that however majestic these columnar pines are, their imperfectly twisted poles don’t suit straight avenues, whereas the stiff Norfolk Island Pine does. Also they look far better planted en masse in threes or fives as a waving path in groups rather than straight lines.
Cook’s Pine is also one of the most popular indoor pot plants (3–5 years old) in the US and Europe, where it is used as a delicate Christmas tree for hanging decorations.