My zone is 8A (South Carolina Midlands, Orangeburg County). I bought Wollemi from NG last winter and kept it in a pot and kept moving it from shade to a sun and it got a bit yellowish. Then this autumn I planted it into the ground giving it some space and some shade, actually it's mostly shade, but it may get some afternoon sun. It got slightly more yellowish green and some of it's tips became yellow and some leaves have brown spots. Our winters get about -1C to +16C with occasional night time or morning temperatures down to -5C or even -7C but not often. Do you think it might die this winter even if in Zone 8A or should I leave it in the ground and not worry? Or should I put it back into the pot and bring it inside the house for the winter? The tree when arrived from NG was barely 5 inches tall from ground up and now it is about 8 inches and a bit wider, has not grown much in almost a year, but added some branches. Should I still keep it in the house for winter until it reaches certain size or is it ok to leave it in the ground in my zone?

Thanks Jaro ^0: because of you I purchased a World Atlas. Dax

From what I read about this on p. 162 of the book The Wollemi Pine by James Woodford, all 3 (three groves known to exist now) groves share the exact same DNA fingerprint. Foliage of over fifty seedlings (yes, seedlings, not coppices of clones) from five different mothers was analyzed along with foliage from the crown of the King Billy tree, the tallest tree in the first canyon, and so far no genetic differences have been found among any. But the trees are reproducing. Basically, it sounds like nobody really knows what the hell is going on. An excerpt from the below linked page: Genetic diversity in the Wollemi pine: Bluntly put  there isn't any. The preliminary research into the first population found no genetic diversity. More detailed research into two of the populations still failed to find any variation in the genetic structure of the plants. Research continues, using different methods. This was, to say the least, unexpected. It was suggested that the 38 adults at the original site were in fact the same organism  having coppiced, with the trunks slowly growing apart. Finding the second population to be (as far as can be ascertained so far) genetically identical to the first, it was postulated that perhaps the plants can produce seeds that are exact clones. Another possibility is that the sheer length of time that the species has been extant has allowed it to reach a kind of evolutionary pinnacle. Or populations could have sunk to even lower than they are now  forming an evolutionary "bottleneck": wiping out most of the individuals and leaving only a tiny genetic stock to propagate itself. Dr. Rod Peakall, of the Australian National University Botany and Zoology department, is the leader of the team performing genetic studies on the Wollemi. He has begun studying the other Araucariaceae species, hoping to find some hint about the reason for the Wollemi's apparent clones. Preliminary studies into the Agathis species show very little genetic variation, though there is some. If the entire Araucariaceae family has low genetic variability, this will assist researchers greatly. Previously it has been a widely held belief that genetic diversity is essential for the longevity of a species  to help it withstand disease, fire, and other threats. The Wollemi pine discoveries could well prove an exception to the rule, or even the evidence that debunks a myth. For some time researchers were concerned at the lack of Wollemi seedlings  but seedlings were found in 1995 and 2000 with the discovery of the second and third populations. However, the seedlings are also genetically identical to the adult stock. Basically  it's all a big mystery. Here is a link that might be useful: Wollemia Nobilis Rod Peakall

Torreya -- How long have you had your Wollemi? Do you have it planted out? How much growth are you getting? Can you post a picture? I got mine in December 2006 and have to keep it as a houseplant. It's not very big, but is developing what looks to me like a couple of side branches off of one long main branch. I'll try to get a picture and post it later. Thanks, Kim