What: Araucaria araucana is a distinctive South American conifer commonly known as a monkey puzzle tree. It has widely spaced branches that extend horizontally from the trunk and then arch upwards toward the tips. The unique, evergreen leaves — triangular in shape and with sharp-pointed tips — are arranged radially around each branch. This tree will definitely make a statement in the garden.
The origin of the name “monkey puzzle” derives from a remark made in Britain in about 1850, when the species was still very rare in gardens. A baronet was showing his tree to a group of friends when one of them, a noted barrister said, “It would puzzle a monkey to climb that.” As the species had no existing common name, first “monkey puzzler,” then “monkey puzzle” stuck.
Size: The pyramidal conifer grows to be 80 feet tall and 30 feet wide when mature.
Where: Monkey puzzle trees grow best in full sun and tolerate a wide range of soils, including clay and sandy types as long as the drainage is very good.
Water: In the Pacific Northwest, the tree is drought tolerant once established, although occasional watering during dry periods will encourage the it to grow a bit faster than it might otherwise.
— Richie Steffen, Great Plant Picks
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