The Wollemi pine will go on sale in Britain
this summer, with strong demanded expected.

The Australian pine, which dates back to the
age of dinosaurs and was long thought to have
been extinct, is set to be the must-have item
for British green thumbs.

Several Wollemi pines have been planted in
Britain's botanical gardens and, having
survived the frosts and snows of the winter
intact, have now received the green light for
general sale.

A batch of 10,000 seedlings has been
earmarked for sale at STG97 ($A239) each.

The trees can grow to more than 33 metres and
live for 1,000 years.

"This is one of the few surviving species
from the time of the dinosaurs and has really
captured people's imagination," said Tony
Kirkham of the famed Kew Gardens.

******

Gardeners can now add a touch of Jurassic
Park to their backyard for as little as $60 -
by buying a Wollemi Pine.

The Wollemi Pine, one of the world's oldest
and rarest plants, is on sale to anyone with
the cash, the space and the urge to plant it.

Dating back to the age of the dinosaurs, the
rare tree was discovered by national park
ranger David Noble in the Wollemi National
Park in the Blue Mountains in 1994.

Fewer than 100 adult Wollemi trees are known
to exist in the wild and the species is now
the focus of a major conservation effort.

"What's so interesting about the Wollemi is
its connection to the dinosaurs and its
ancient history," said general manager of
Wollemi Pine International, Barbara McGeoch,
who said its discovery was "the greatest
botanical find ever".

"So when it was discovered it was akin to
finding a dinosaur alive today."

Two Wollemi pines have been planted in
Sydney's Royal Botanic Gardens, protected by
a metal cage, in order to conserve the
precious species.

But now those wanting to get their hands on
their own piece of living history can buy the
pines through 170 selected retail nurseries
around Australia and also online at
www.wollemipine.com.

A 40cm plant will retail for about $60, while
a 60cm pine will set you back about $100.

Royalties from sales will go towards
conservation of the Wollemi trees already in
the wild, as well as other endangered
species.

Licences for the planting of the pine have
also been granted in the UK, Europe, Japan
and New Zealand.

The Wollemi Pine, closely related to the
Norfolk Island Pine, can grow up to 20 metres
in the ground and can also be grown in pots.

They enjoy full sun or semi-shade.

They have been known to grow anywhere in
Australia and are easy to maintain.

© 2006 AAP