The Bunya pine is a large conifer from the rainforests of Queensland, Australia. The species is mainly found in the Bunya Mountains National Park and is rare outside this area. The species can grow up to 50 meters high and has small leaves with a sharp point. At the top, the branches point upwards and at the bottom they hang downwards. This gives older trees a distinctive egg shape. After 15 years, the species can form cones, with male cones being elongated and about 20 cm in size. Female cones are spherical, up to 35 cm in size and can weigh up to 10 kg! They contain 50-100 large seeds, which are among the largest of all conifers. Every 3 years, Aboriginals celebrate the Bunya festivals, during which these seeds are roasted and eaten. In nature, it is now mainly cockatoos that spread the seeds. These birds take them away to eat, but occasionally drop them. It is likely that an extinct species was responsible for spreading the seeds initially, as seed dispersal is now very limited.
The species can tolerate a few degrees of frost and can therefore be kept as a container plant. In countries around the Mediterranean, the species can be planted outdoors. Provide a sunny location, well-drained soil, and water the plant regularly.
Sowing description: Sow in sowing soil without pre-treatment. Germination after a few weeks to months at 20-30°C. Keep the soil constantly slightly moist.
