planted specimens and their offspring
BACKGROUND: At least since the last glaciation of the Pleistocene, the two U.S. species of genus Torreya have been found only in California and along the Apalachicola River of the Florida panhandle. Nonetheless it is postulated that the Apalachicola species of Torreya (T. taxifolia) would have been native to the southern Appalachians and possibly further north during previous interglacials and warm epochs of the Cenozoic.NORTH CAROLINA GROVES OF TORREYA: Torreya Guardians is aware of 2 groves of mature Torreya in North Carolina that were planted long enough ago, with both male and female trees, and residing in situations in which natural propagation of second and third generation trees has been able to occur (likely thanks to local squirrels acting as seed dispersers).
ASHEVILLE NC SITE: In 1939 about a dozen specimens of T. taxifolia (Florida Torreya) were planted at the Biltmore Gardens, Asheville NC. You can view several photos taken at the Biltmore Gardens in 2002 and many more taken at the Biltmore Gardens in 2006.
HIGHLANDS NC SITE: In the 1920s, three (still surviving) specimens were planted on a private estate in Highlands NC. There is no documentation as to species. Based on seed morphology, we surmise the plants are California Torreya. Take a tour of this site by viewing the Highlands Torreya photos.