Araucaria bidwillii: False Monkey Puzzle Tree

Introduction

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.

General Information

Scientific name: Araucaria bidwillii

Pronunciation: air-ah-KAIR-ee-uh bid-WILL-ee-eye

Common name(s): False monkey puzzle tree

Family: Araucariaceae

USDA hardiness zones: 9A through 11 (Fig. 2)

Origin: not native to North America

Invasive potential: little invasive potential

Uses: indoors; specimen

Availability: not native to North America

Description

Height: 60 to 80 feet

Spread: 15 to 25 feet

Crown uniformity: symmetrical

Crown shape: pyramidal, columnar

Crown density: moderate

Growth rate: moderate

Texture: fine

Foliage

Leaf arrangement: spiral (Fig. 3)

Leaf type: simple

Leaf margin: entire

Leaf shape: linear, needle-like (filiform), lanceolate

Leaf venation: parallel

Leaf type and persistence: evergreen, needled evergreen

Leaf blade length: less than 2 inches

Leaf color: green

Fall color: no color change

Fall characteristic: not showy

Flower

Flower color: unknown

Flower characteristics: not showy

Fruit

Fruit shape: oval, cone

Fruit length: 3 to 6 inches, 6 to 12 inches

Fruit covering: dry or hard

Fruit color: brown

Fruit characteristics: does not attract wildlife; showy; fruit/leaves a litter problem

Trunk and Branches

Trunk/bark/branches: branches droop; not showy; typically one trunk; thorns

Pruning requirement: little required

Breakage: resistant

Current year twig color: brown

Current year twig thickness: medium

Wood specific gravity: unknown

Culture

Light requirement: full sun

Soil tolerances: clay; sand; loam; alkaline; acidic; well-drained

Drought tolerance: high

Aerosol salt tolerance: moderate

Other

Roots: can form large surface roots

Winter interest: no

Outstanding tree: no

Ozone sensitivity: unknown

Verticillium wilt susceptibility: unknown

Pest resistance: resistant to pests/diseases

Use and Management

Although they provide some shade, they are not suitable for patios or terraces, because they are too large and large surface roots are common. In addition, the columnar-formed trees generally cast limited shade due to the narrow crown. Many people forget how tall these trees grow. They often have an attractive pyramidal form (like a fir or spruce tree) when they are small, but they quickly grow too tall for most residential sites. This tree is best saved for large-scale landscapes like parks and municipal buildings.

Growing best in full sun locations, this tree thrives on a variety of soils and is moderately salt tolerant. Young plants should be watered well, especially during periods of drought. Be sure to prune out multiple trunks or leaders as they should be grown with one central leader.

Propagation is by seeds or cuttings of erect shoot tips only.

Pests

Scale and sooty mold are minor problems.

Diseases

No diseases are of major concern. Leaf spots are a minor problem.