On a miserable July morning, my spirit was lifted and the day brightened as I looked at one of the world’s oldest and rarest plants the Wollemi Pine Wollemia Noblis. It dates back to the time of the dinosaurs and fewer than 100 trees of this specimen exist in the world.

As a result, this tree has been the focus of a unique propagation programme and is now available to all who wish to take part in the global conservation effort. The sample pictured right has been put behind bars in a botanical garden for its own protection.

The oldest living tree is around 1,000 years old. It was in 1994 that David Noble and New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife officer discovered this plant in a secret location 200 kilometres west of Sydney Australia.
His find prompted Sir David Attenborough to comment “How marvellous and exciting that we have discovered this rare survivor from such an ancient past.” Also commenting on this find in 1994, Professor Carrick Chambers of Sydney Royal Botanic Gardens said “It’s like the discovery of a small dinosaur still alive on earth!” I am looking forward to acquiring this plant even though it will cost me €150!

The mention of David Noble brings to mind the famous plant hunters of years gone by who risked their lives to bring back plants and seeds from far-off places– great plant hunters like Joseph Rock, George Forrest and Ernest Wilson (pictured left). The impact of plants they discovered had far-reaching effects on gardens and parks and landscaping in general.

Ernest Wilson was a legendary plant hunter, one of the greatest. He was born in England in 1876 and it was while working at Kew Gardens that he was requested by the managing director of Veitch Nurseries to travel to China to find the beautiful Handkerchief Tree (Davidia Involucrata).

Wilson’s expedition lasted three years and not only did he find what he was looking for, he also collected hundreds of other varieties including paper bark maple, magnolia, yellow poppy, rhododendrons and primulas.
When he found the handkerchief tree, he described it as like huge butterflies hovering– an apt description. A deciduous tree, this variety is raised from seed and likes full sunshine or part shade and good, deep soil.

The seed takes three years to germinate and on maturity this tree can reach 50 feet in height.

Wilson went to the United States and worked in the Arnold Arboretum and then travelled again, this time to China, Japan and Africa. His most famous discovery is one we all know and love– the beautiful regal lily, lilium regale. He found it in a remote valley in the borders of Tibet in 1910 and sent back thousands of bulbs.

The path to the find was a treacherous one that involved crossing a narrow gorge. During the search, Wilson’s leg was damaged by falling rock but, thanks to the skill of a missionary, the limb was saved.

The beautiful lily is a tribute to this man– a legendary plant hunter who overcame danger in his plant-finding missions, especially in China.

Wilson’s life ended tragically along with his wife on the streets of Massachusetts in 1930, when his car skidded on wet ground and crashed. The gardens of America and Europe owe much to this man, who is affectionately remembered as ‘Chinese’ Wilson.

Just a word on the regal lily. It grows up to 1.8 metres with up to thirty or more blooms scented with dark green leaves. It is a much-loved bloom.

Mention should be made of George Forrest the Scottish plant hunter (1873-1932) who travelled extensively in the Chinese region of north-west Yunnian and is remembered for his collection of the rhododendron. He introduced the world to over 300 new varieties.

He also brough us caellias, lilies primules and the beautiful gentiana-suni-ornate. This is an evergreen perennial that flowers in Autumn. It is a deep blue trumpet bloom two inches tall and 15 inches wide. His collection went almost exclusively to the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh.

The plant hunters opened up a world of bloom to the world and brought some of the best-known and loved plants to Europe’s doorstep. Theirs is a legacy that lives on in our gardens. It brings a whole new meaning to the term ‘treasure seeker’!