Torreya taxifolia in Alabama   Kaul Wildflower Garden Birmingham Botanical Gardens   Visit page • Private wild forest, 30 acres within larger forested acreage, near base of Cheaha Mountains, near Ashland (east of Birmingham). Forest owner is Eleanor McCain, who planted 5 seedlings November 2024 and is stratifying 30 seeds for future planting.  Click for ASHLAND site. • Private wild forest, 80 acres, Etowah County, on Red Mountain, NE of Birmingham AL. Report in private email to Connie Barlow, July 2020: "X gave me 9 Torreyas in 2014 that were from 3 to 6 inches tall.  Several that were in full sun died from heat & light by the end of the summer.  One that I planted on a west-facing slope had full AM sun, but afternoon shade from a cedar 15 feet away. That one thrived. It had a lovely full form and was growing past 3 feet. But a year ago the voles ate the roots and it died.  I did rescue two of the 10-inch plants from the full sun planting, and planted them within 3 feet of the one that did so well near the cedar.  I also put a ring of hardware cloth about 5 inches into the ground around each to discourage voles. They are each growing very well — full form and about 2 feet tall now. Last winter X gave me two more Torreyas about two feet tall, and I have them planted in the edge of the woods, and they are shaded all day.  They are doing very well with lots of new growth." UPDATE 29 July 2024: "The last two trees that X gave me 4 years ago are doing very well planted in the edge of the woods at Brasher Springs, Etowah County, Alabama. They were about a foot high in pots when he gave them to me. They are now about 5 feet high with lots of limbs and very vigorous. The 5 trees X gave me perhaps 10 years ago were planted out in the open. They all died within 4 years. Some died from heat/sun. Others died from voles eating them just below ground. So far, no vole damage on the 2 in the woods. The trees really stick you when you try to remove fallen limbs from the hardwoods above! No deer herbivory. UPDATE 25 November 2024: "My two trees in the edge of the woods at Clear Creek, Etowah County, AL, are doing great!" WWW www.TorreyaGuardians.org Return to HOME PAGE