Description
Araucaria araucana
it would puzzle a monkey to climb with it’s sharp leaves it’s a fast growing oddity
evergreen
comes 3-4′, 4-5′, 5-6′, 6-7′ feet tall and larger
Araucaria araucana – Araucaria imbricata – Monkey Puzzle Tree – Chilean Pine – This coniferous tree is found on volcanic slopes on the Chilean side of the Andes and into Argentina at high altitudes up to 6,000’ feet and grows 50-80’ feet tall and 20-30’ feet wide. This tree forms a conical shape and are very symmetrical when young then with maturity rounded and loses its lower branches. It bears radial arranged triangular-ovate leathery bright green then dark green overlapping 2” long leaves are fiercely prickly. Leaves may hold up to 10-15 years before shedding. The bark is tough, horizontally ridged dark gray-brown and matures to 4’ feet in diameter. Female globular cones are ovoid to 3-6” long and ripen over 2-3 years. Male cones are ovoid to cylindrical and to 6” long. Seeds are edible. This tree enjoyed fad status in Britain in the 1840’s; the remark was ‘it would puzzle a monkey to climb it’.
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.
Zones 6-11
