Monkey Puzzle Pine (Araucaria araucana)

Araucaria araucana, Monkey Puzzle Pine or Chilean Pine, is an evergreen conifer native to woodland volcanic slopes up to 1,800 metres in elevation in the Andes Mountains in Chile and Argentina. It is the national tree of Chile. It reportedly has the best winter hardiness of any tree native in the southern hemisphere. It typically grows to 6 to 10 metres tall in cultivation but may reach 20 to 40 metres tall in its native habitat. It is noted for its unique shape. Trees are loose-pyramidal and open when young but develop an umbrella-like crown with loss of lower branches as they age. Horizontal, upward-arching branches appear in whorls around the trunk with rope-like branchlets. The bark is grey-brown and ridged. Dense, leathery, triangular, radially-arranged leaves (60cm long) have sharp points. Individual leaves persist for 10 to 15 years. Trees are dioecious (separate male and female trees). Female cones (15cm long) take 2-3 years to mature, disintegrating at maturity to release the nut-like seeds (each 4 to 5cm long). Seeds (pinones) are edible and reminiscent of pine nuts. The tree is endangered in Chile today and is now protected under Appendix I of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora).

The Monkey Puzzle will grow in eastern Australia, where it is grown in deep, moderately fertile, evenly moist, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Trees perform well in various soils as long as they are well-drained. Trees perform much better in cool, borderline Mediterranean-type climates (Adelaide Hills, Western Victoria and Melbourne) with mild summers than in climates with hot summers. In winter, keep potted plants in bright, indirect sunlit areas with cool temperatures. Mist foliage regularly.