Widdringtonia cedarbergensis 10 seeds "Clanwilliam cedar"

They are critically endangered and are on the brink of extinction after decades of unsustainable harvesting for their beautiful, long-lasting, fragrant timber, and from too frequent veld fires.
The Clanwilliam cedar is confined to an approximately 250 km2 area in the Cederberg Mountains, about 240 km north of Cape Town. They occur singly or in scattered groups on rocky outcrops and mountain tops at altitudes from 800 to 1 980 m. In former times the whole mountain chain was studded with these trees, but by 1883 nearly all accessible trees of commercial value had been felled. The Clanwilliam cedars today are usually 5-7 m tall, but in protected, inaccessible places, specimens of up to 20 m with a trunk of up to 2 m. in diameter can be found - although many of them were killed in the fire of 1989. But even these large specimens are dwarfs compared to the past giants that must have been at least double the girth of any of those now standing. There is a report of a tree cut down in 1836 having a girth of 36 feet (11 m).
Young trees have a conical crown, old trees have massive gnarled trunks and spreading branches. The bark is reddish grey, thin and fibrous, flaking in scale-like plates.Male and female cones are borne on the same plant. Male cones are very small, up to 2 mm long and are produced in autumn. Female cones are dark brown, almost spherical, up to 25 mm in diameter, with 4 woody, rough, warty scales. They develop in autumn, and remain on the tree for almost 3 years before the seeds are released during late summer. As a result, they can be found in various stages of development on the tree, all year round. Seeds are black-brown, ovoid with a narrow wing.

The Clanwilliam cedar is propagated from seed sown in autumn, in well-drained, sandy soil. Germination takes 3-4 weeks and seedlings can be transplanted as soon as they are large enough to handle. The seed germinates relatively well, and will benefit from treatment with Instant Smoke Plus Seed Primer. Initial growth is good, and saplings are best grown on in semi-shade. The Clanwilliam cedar is susceptible to the root fungus Phytophthora cinnamomi, so use sterile soil and keep root disturbance to a minimum. Also, do not allow the saplings to dry out, adult trees may be drought tolerant but young trees in containers will not survive a total drought.

Established trees are drought tolerant, and are frost hardy in South Africa but are probably not hardy to prolonged cold at temperatures below -5¿C/20¿F. The Clanwilliam cedar is an ornamental conifer suitable for most gardens, it is also a good choice for the fynbos garden, and is an interesting bonsai subject. It makes a good indigenous Christmas tree subject in a large tub or half barrel.

Because they are resinous and burst into flame relatively easily, this is not a good tree to plant near the house if you live in a fire-prone area, nor to plant near your barbecue (braai) area.