Monkey Puzzle

Araucaria araucana, sometimes called Chile Pine or Monkey Puzzle, is an ancient, slow-growing tree well-known for its distinctive long, slender branches densely covered with overlapping spiky leaves.

Introduced to the UK in 1795 by Archibald Menzies, a famous Navy surgeon who later became a plant collector, it won the Award of Merit in 1980. Interestingly, it was once native to Britain, as evidenced by the jet deposits in Northern England that Queen Victoria coveted so much. Hardy in the UK, these trees are often planted too close to houses, necessitating their removal before reaching maturity.

This unusual conifer prefers moist, loamy soil and has strong apical dominance, drawing the tree upward and making it well-suited for crown lifting. The foliage is very sharp, so avoid handling it unless well-protected. The cones are globular, up to 20 cm long, and take up to three years to mature.

Mature height: 20m+

Common names

Monkey Puzzle

Height of tree

20m+

Tree type

Evergreen

Soil type

Well drained, Will tolerate most soil types

Shape

Pyramidal

Foliage Colour

Green

Information Flags

Award

Looks good in

Winter

Location

Parkland

Genus

Araucaria