The Araucaria genus is comprised of approximately 19 species of pine-like conifers indigenous to the Southern hemisphere. A. araucana or Monkey Puzzle Tree is the hardiest of these species. It is a large, stately evergreen conifer native to the volcanic hills of the Andes mountains in southern Chile and western Argentina. It is the national tree of Chile and thrives in maritime areas with mild, cool, climates. It is sometimes called a living fossil due to its longevity and unusual appearance resembling fossilized plants. Juveniles are conical or pyramidal with sparse, symmetrical, rope-like branches forming an open growth habit. At maturity, the crown broadens into an umbrella-shaped canopy atop a tall straight trunk with few lower branches. Native specimens can live to 1000 or more years. In the 18th century, Spanish colonizers took specimens, introducing it then to England and subsequent nursery commerce. In its native setting, it reaches a height of 130 feet with a 7-foot diameter trunk. Cultivated specimens are typically much smaller (60-70 feet tall x 30-35 feet wide). This tree is not naturalized in North America, and cold hardiness only to USDA zone 7 limits its use in the U.S. However, it has potential as a unique garden specimen in some areas of the south, southwest and west coast U.S. This tree has few pests or diseases and thrives best with full sun, well-drained soil and frequent watering. It tolerates nearly any type of soil, including clay, provided it is well-drained. It grows best in open, full sun locations with ample room to accommodate its large size when mature. Additional site considerations are surface roots that may interfere with lawn mowing and lift sidewalks or hardscaping. Fallen cones may be an undesirable litter or pedestrian nuisance. Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: This tree does not tolerate urban pollution. It is generally pest resistant but has some susceptibility to scales, leaf spot, phytophthora, root rot and sooty molds. Siting must allow adequate space for this tree's large size at maturity as surface roots are capable of lifting sidewalks and impeding lawn mowing. Large falling cones may be an undesirable litter or pedestrian issue. VIDEO created by Ryan Contreras for “Landscape Plant Materials I: Deciduous Hardwoods and Conifers or Landscape Plant Materials II: Spring Flowering Trees and Shrubs” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
24-60 feet
NC region
Coastal; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 50 ft. 0 in. - 80 ft. 0 in. | Width: 20 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
1 - Canopy (>40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Conical; Erect; Pyramidal
Texture
Coarse
Foliage
Needled Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Glossy; Leathery
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Thick, simple, alternate, ovate-lanceolate leaves are triangularly shaped, scale-like, and densely arranged spirally around the stem such that the stem is not visible. On younger trees, the leaves also cover the bark. The base of each leaf is the widest, then tapering to a stiff, spiny pointed tip. Leaf dimensions are relatively broad (about 1 inch wide at the base and up to 2 inches in length to its pointed tip). Leaves are very hard and sharp and may last for up to 10-15 years.
Flower detail
Non-flowering
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Green
Fruit value
Edible
Fruit size
> 3 inches long, > 3 inches wide
Fruit detail
Trees are mostly dioecious, having male and female cones on separate trees, however, both male and female cones occasionally appear on the same tree. Oblong male cones up, to 6 inches in length, are situated in clusters at the ends of shoots and release pollen to female seed cones via wind dispersion. Pineapple-shaped female seed cones are ovoid to spherical, up to 8 inches in size and contain up to 200 seeds. At maturity, which takes 2-3 years, seed cones drop to the ground where they release the seeds. Mature trees release a prolific amount of seeds but cannot do so until they are 30-40 years old.
Bark color
Dark Gray
Bark detail
Gray-brown bark is deeply wrinkled with horizontal folds
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
South America, Chile, Argentina
Distribution
Chile, Argentina, England
Wildlife value
Seeds are a food source for small mammals
Play value
Edible fruit; Textural; Wildlife Food Source
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Fruit; Seeds; Nuts
Harvest time
Fall; Summer
Edibility
Large nut-like seeds (piñones) are edible and taste best when roasted.
Uses (ethnobotany)
Indigenous peoples of Chile and Argentina harvest the seeds for food, using them to make flour and a fermented beverage (muday). Some consider the tree to be sacred. Its long straight trunk was historically desirable for lumber, but logging is currently prohibited due to its endangered status.