Also known as the Chilean pine, the Monkey Puzzle tree is from the Araucaria family of plants. Botanically, it is known as Araucaria araucana. It is an evergreen tree.
Monkey Puzzle Tree Description
An evergreen conifer, the monkey puzzle tree has evenly spaced branches in tiers and designed in whorls around the tree’s trunk. It has the potential to get 50 to 100 feet high with a width of 20 to 30 feet. Typically, it will only reach about 30 feet tall. It is cone shaped with a loss of the lower branches as it matures. Bark is dark gray-brown. Leaves are leathery, sharp, and triangular. They are dense on the branches. Leaves live 10 to 15 years on the tree before the are replaced. Cones are egg-shaped and will ripen in two to three years time.
Growing Guide
This tree prefers to grow in full sun or partial shade in a moist and well-drained soil. Propagate by tip cuttings or seed. It excels in areas that are humid and cool in the summer. It has a USDA hardiness zone range of 7 through 10. It is tolerant of salt spray and wind.
Warnings
This tree has sharp leaves and branchlet litter almost year round. It is a messy tree that can injure some with the sharpness of the leaves on the ground.
Uses
This is a nice specimen tree for parks or big landscapes. They put out edible seeds, too.
Distribution
Sixteen of the eighteen species of Araucaria are found in remote South Pacific islands and Australia. It can be found in the volcano slopes in Chile and in Argentina.
Source: Floridata