Landscape Plants

Four evergreen conifer species of trees or shrubs, to about 15-65 ft (~5-20 m) tall, one species to 130 ft (40 m). Adult leaves are scale-like and arranged in opposite pairs in four rows along the twigs; juvenile leaves are needle-like, 1-1.5 cm long, and arranged spirally.  Ripe seed cones are oval to nearly spherical, 1.3-2.5 cm wide.  Native to southern and southeastern Africa (Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe).

Widdringtonia: Stephan F. L. Endlicher named the genus in 1842 after Capt. Samuel Edward Widdrington (formerly Cook) (1787-1856) an English writer who lived in and wrote about Spain.  Endlicher was honoring Widdrington's interest in and scientific studies of Spain's coniferous forests.