Araucaria bidwillii: False Monkey Puzzle Tree

This large evergreen has a single upright trunk, tiered branching habit, and a pyramidal or columnar shape. Eventually reaching a height of about 80 feet, false monkey puzzle possesses a moderate growth rate. The tree would grow taller, but lightning frequently limits height growth in the eastern United States. The dark green, two-inch-long, individual leaves are lanceolate when young, becoming 1/2-inch ovals at maturity. Both leaf types appear on the tree at the same time. The large, spiny, 10- to 15-pound cones are rare in cultivation.