Araucaria cunninghamii – Hoop Pine – Moreton Bay Pine –

Description

Araucaria This remarkable geologically ancient genus consist of 19 species of evergreen coniferous trees from tropical rainforest occur where theirs a pronounced dry season like in Guinea, Australia, New Hebrides, New Caledonia, Norfolk Island, and Brazil.  The densely crowded overlapping leaves are spirally arranged and usually broadly triangular to needle-like.  Male and female organs are on the same tree that first appear green maturing to brown.  The female cones are spherical ovoid or ellipsoid with seeds fused to the bract scale, the male cones are conical or cylindrical both are usually found at the top of the trees. Most are used for large gardens but can be grown indoors in soil-based potting mix in full light with good ventilation.  In growing season water freely and apply a balanced liquid fertilizer every 2 weeks, keep just moist in winter. Cold tolerance of the genus varies to each species; grow in moderately fertile, moist but well drained soil in full sun in an open protected site.  It may be a fast grower if conditions are right. Prone to needle necrosis, bleeding cankers, mealy bugs, and scale insects. Araucaria cunninghamii – Hoop Pine – Moreton Bay Pine – This columnar or conical coniferous tree from Queensland and North New South Wales, Australia grows to 160’ feet tall and only 20’ feet wide.  The trunk has red brown horizontally peeling bark that gives way to rougher transversely or ‘hoops’ develop to form bands encircling the trunk and can grow to 6’ feet in diameter.  The young shoots are covered in mid green, needle like to ovate flattened spirally arranged leaves that are ½” long on mature trees they are crowded and overlapping and bent sharply back and ¼-3/8” long.  Female cones are 4” long and are ovoid, male cones are 2-3” long and are cylindrical. Zones 9-15