"Jurassic Park" lovers with green thumbs can create their own dinosaur landscape using plants that are believed to have survived for hundreds of millions of years — or that are at least closely related to that ancient flora.
These living fossils can do well in Tucson given enough water and some protection from winter freeze, says Michael Chamberland, curator of horticulture at the Tucson Botanical Gardens.
"You can do a nice little prehistoric garden," says Chamberland. "Most . . . are evergreen that give that tropical kind of look. They look very good in a courtyard or semi-walled protected area."
"Ferns are very well represented in the fossil record," says Chamberland. "Ferns remain very common."
The leathery-leafed desert fern grows wild in Southern Arizona mountains. Only Tohono Chul Park sells them locally ($35-$50 for 5-gallon plant), he says.
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Palmlike cone-bearing plants with spine-tipped fan leaves take years to grow tall.
"They're not exactly arid plants, but they don't need a lot of water," says Chamberland. Cycads like warmer winters than Tucson's but can thrive in protected areas or when brought indoors.
The Mexican dioon edule ($49.95 for a 5-gallon plant at Mesquite Valley Growers Nursery) does well in Tucson, he says, as does the popular sago palm ($49.95 for 5-gallon plant at Mesquite Valley).
Descendants of prehistoric conifers include today's pine trees.
The trees in the Petrified Forest National Park east of Holbrook also were conifers. A close cousin that can grow in Tucson is the towering Araucaria bidwillii, commonly known as the bunya-bunya from Australia. Prevalent in Southern California, the 150-foot tree, whose cone is larger than a football, will require more water than desert vegetation and a warm, shaded area.
"It's the kind of plant that a plant nerd would grow," Chamberland admits. "It can be difficult to find."
Mesquite Valley occasionally sells the related monkey puzzle tree, says sales associate Scott Warren. A specimen in a 7-gallon pot costs $100.
Ginkgo is another popular ancient tree, says Chamberland, often used as a street tree in the eastern United States. The deciduous plant "won't have any trouble with our winters," he says. A 5-gallon tree costs $39.95 at Mesquite Valley.
A Tucson Botanical Gardens exhibit provides background information about the prehistoric plants on the grounds. While no gardening information is included, visitors can see how they can look in a modern landscape.
3/4 If you go
• DIG: Prehistoric Garden
• What: Exhibit that explores the geology, paleontology and botany surrounding ancient plants that exist today.
• When: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. through Sept. 30. Related events are specially scheduled.
• Where: Tucson Botanical Gardens, 2150 N. Alvernon Way.
• Admission: Part of regular admission: $7, $3 for ages 4-12, free for 3 and younger.
• Information: 326-9686, tucsonbotanical.org