Practical
Plants

Athrotaxis selaginoides

King William Pine

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Athrotaxis genus in the family Cupressaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
slow
Height
30 m
Spread
6 m
Fertility
Wind
Flower type
monoecious
Pollinators
Wind

Uses

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Wood - very durable, easily worked. A softwood with a pleasant cedar scent, it is highly valued for many uses[2].

Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Canopy

Environment

Range
Australia - S.W. Tasmania
Habitat
Cool rainforests where snowfall is quite common in winter and rainfall is 1.5 - 2 metres per year[2].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 8+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow February/March in a cool greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts[5]. Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth, 7 - 10cm long in early autumn (October), in sandy soil in a cold frame. Leave for 12 months[5].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a sheltered position in a rich moist soil[1]. Plants are not very hardy in most areas of Britain, though they succeed outdoors in the south and west of the country, producing fertile seed in W. Britain[4]. A very slow growing species[2], trees can succeed in the southern part of Britain but the best growth is found in wetter areas such as Cornwall and Ireland[3].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Holliday. I. and Hill. R. A Field Guide to Australian Trees. Frederick Muller Ltd. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-85179-627-3

    ↩1↩2↩3

  3. Mitchell. A. F. Conifers in the British Isles. HMSO 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-11-710012-9

    ↩

  4. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩

  5. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩1↩2

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