THE AFRICAN RELIC: Australia's most exclusive Gondwana conifer, propagated from elite botanical garden lineages.

Currently cultivating SVF mother stock for future seed harvest. Join the waitlist for future 140mm (60-75cm) releases.

Willowmore Cedar (Widdringtonia schwarzii)

$45.95

Elite Tasmanian & Estate Reserve

Waitlist active. Future 140mm releases will ship nationally (WA/NT/TAS via Plant Concierge).

Highly Endangered in the Wild
Authentic South African Provenance
Botanic Garden Heritage
SVF Mother Stock Program

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Securing the Future of the Willowmore Cedar in Australia

The Widdringtonia schwarzii, commonly known as the Willowmore Cedar or Baviaanskloof Cedar, is a critically endangered survivor of the ancient Gondwanan supercontinent. Native exclusively to the remote, rocky gorges of South Africa’s Baviaanskloof Mountains, it is a holy grail for serious botanical collectors. At Sequoia Valley Farms, our relationship with this species is deeply rooted in conservation. Our original stock was cultivated alongside a highly specialised project designed to supply the prestigious Inala Jurassic Gardens in Tasmania. Recognising the extreme scarcity of this species on the Australian mainland, we have dedicated our remaining specimens to an in-house mother stock program at our Mittagong estate. Our goal is to harvest seed and secure a permanent, elite supply line for the future. While we wait for our mother trees to mature, we invite acreage owners, arboretum curators, and serious Gondwana collectors to join our waitlist for future releases of our highly sought-after 140mm (60–75cm) specimens.

Elite conservation — actively cultivating mother stock to preserve this critically endangered species in Australia

Botanic prestige — our genetic lineages are tied to high-level botanical conservation projects

Deep Gondwanan roots — a flawless, ultra-rare addition to any serious southern hemisphere flora collection

Exclusive waitlist — priority access to future 140mm tubestock releases for dedicated collectors

At a Glance

Pot Size: 140mm (Future Waitlist Releases)
Est. Height: 60–75cm (Measured from the base of the pot)
Mature Size: 15–30m tall in the wild
Growth Habit: Pyramidal in youth, developing a sprawling, majestic canopy as it ages
Style: Arboretum Specimen / Rare Gondwana Collection / Drought-Tolerant Feature

MOTHER STOCK DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM*
*Due to international seed import restrictions and the extreme rarity of this species, we are currently holding our remaining Widdringtonia schwarzii inventory to develop a permanent, seed-producing mother stock at our NSW estate. Please join the waitlist to be notified of future 140mm propagations.

The Willowmore Cedar (Widdringtonia schwarzii) is an awe-inspiring evergreen conifer that represents the absolute pinnacle of rare plant collecting. Endemic to just a few rocky, fire-protected ravines in South Africa, it features striking, glaucous (blue-green) juvenile foliage that matures into dense, scale-like leaves reminiscent of the northern hemisphere cypresses. It produces clusters of beautiful, dark woody cones that add incredible textural interest to the landscape.

Because of its origins in the rugged African landscape, it is remarkably drought-tolerant once established, making it a brilliant, albeit incredibly rare, addition to Australian acreage and private arboretums. Alongside our past imports of the closely related Widdringtonia nodiflora, SVF is dedicated to establishing the Widdringtonia genus in Australia. If you are building a legacy garden and wish to buy a Willowmore Cedar, adding your name to our collector’s waitlist is your first step toward securing this Gondwanan masterpiece.

The Ultimate Rarity: One of the rarest conifers available in Australian cultivation, making it the crown jewel of any serious botanical collection.
Rugged Drought Tolerance: Native to the harsh, rocky ravines of South Africa, it is incredibly resilient to dry conditions once its deep root system is established.
Botanic Heritage: Our foundational stock was cultivated in association with specialized supply projects for the renowned Inala Jurassic Gardens.
Striking Foliage Evolution: Displays beautiful, spiky, blue-green juvenile foliage that gracefully transitions into dense, overlapping cypress-like scales as it matures.

Curate a World-Class Arboretum

Join the waitlist for the Willowmore Cedar, and explore our other critically endangered Gondwana survivors.

A stunning juvenile Widdringtonia schwarzii displaying a dense, pyramidal canopy of bright, glaucous blue-green foliage. Willowmore Cedar

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Trusted by Gardeners Like You

★★★★★

"SVF is doing incredibly important work by establishing a mother stock of Widdringtonia schwarzii in Australia. I received one of their earlier 140mm specimens, and the health and vigour of the plant at 70cm tall was outstanding."

— Prof. Allen H. — University Professor, Sydney (NSW)

★★★★★

"I am building a private Gondwana arboretum on my acreage. To find a nursery with connections to the Inala Jurassic Gardens project offering the Willowmore Cedar is unbelievable. I am eagerly awaiting the next seed harvest!"

— James M. — Rare Conifer Collector, Southern Tablelands (NSW)

★★★★★

"The juvenile blue-green foliage on these trees is spectacular. Knowing how difficult it is to import South African seed, SVF’s dedication to cultivating these rarities locally is a massive asset to Australian horticulture."

— Janko V. H. — Landscape Gardener, Frankston (VIC)

Why is this tree currently out of stock?

Widdringtonia schwarzii is critically endangered and extremely difficult to import from South Africa. We have intentionally pulled our remaining stock from public sale to establish a permanent 'mother stock' at our Mittagong estate. Once these trees mature and produce viable cones, we will harvest the seed and release new 140mm stock to our waitlist.

What is the connection to Inala Jurassic Gardens?

Our foundational Widdringtonia stock was cultivated as part of a specialised propagation project by our premium Tasmanian supplier, specifically designed to provide specimens for the world-renowned Gondwana collection at the Inala Jurassic Gardens.

Do you offer bulk landscaping sizes?

No. Because of its extreme rarity and the slow, meticulous process required to propagate it, we do not produce this species at commercial landscape volumes. It is strictly reserved as a boutique, small-batch release for collectors, arboretums, and botanical gardens.

Will it survive in the Australian climate?

Yes! Because it originates in the rocky, fire-prone mountains of South Africa, it is highly adapted to poor soils and drought once established. It thrives in well-drained, sunny positions across most of the Australian mainland and Tasmania.

Detailed Description and Specs

The Willowmore Cedar (Widdringtonia schwarzii) is a magnificent, evergreen coniferous tree belonging to the Cupressaceae (Cypress) family. It is strictly endemic to the Baviaanskloof and Kouga mountains in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, where it survives in isolated, rocky gorges protected from frequent wildfires.

In cultivation, it forms a beautiful pyramidal shape in its youth before developing a massive, spreading, architectural canopy in maturity. It exhibits distinct foliage phases: juvenile trees feature striking, spiky, glaucous (blue-green) needle-like leaves, while mature foliage consists of tiny, scale-like green leaves tightly pressed against the stems. It produces distinct, woody, four-valved seed cones that cluster heavily on the branches. The timber is highly aromatic and historically prized, though the species is now strictly protected.

Species: Widdringtonia schwarzii (Willowmore Cedar / Baviaanskloof Cedar)
Foliage: Spiky blue-green juvenile needles transitioning to dense, scale-like mature foliage.
Cones: Clustered, dark-brown, four-valved woody cones.
Status: Critically Endangered (IUCN Red List).
Best For: Private arboretums, botanical gardens, and elite Gondwana collections.

Care and Planting Guide

When future releases become available, the Willowmore Cedar requires a site that mimics its rugged, well-drained African origins.

Sunlight & Location: Plant in full sun. It requires a highly open, airy position to thrive and should not be crowded by other aggressively growing canopy trees.
Soil & Drainage: Perfect drainage is the absolute most critical factor for survival. It prefers rocky, sandy, or gravelly loams. It will rapidly succumb to root rot if planted in heavy, waterlogged clay or low-lying depressions.
Watering: Water carefully during its first summer in the ground to establish the root system. Once established, it is highly drought-tolerant and deeply resents over-watering.
Protection: While it can handle sharp frosts, juvenile plants should be protected from severe, prolonged freezing winds until their trunks begin to thicken and mature.

Shipping and Delivery

Waitlist & Future Releases
We are currently cultivating our mother stock. By joining the waitlist, you will receive priority notification the moment our next batch of 140mm (60–75cm) specimens successfully germinates and reaches dispatch size.

Future Shipping – Eastern States
When available, our 140mm stock will ship securely via our premium plant freight network across NSW, ACT, VIC, QLD, and SA.

Western Australia, Northern Territory & Tasmania
Due to the extreme rarity of this species, all future orders to WA, NT, and TAS must be processed through our Plant Concierge. This ensures the plants undergo the correct, mandatory biosecurity treatments without risking the health of these highly valuable specimens.

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