Beginner
skill rating
Online Garden Tools
Useful videos
Araucaria araucana (Monkey puzzle)
1 hour care
per year
per year
20m
Max height
Max height
10m
Max spread
Max spread
20-50 years
To maturity
To maturity
Plant details
Botanical name
Araucaria araucana
Other names
Monkey puzzle, Chile pine, Chilean pine
Genus
Araucaria Araucaria
Species
A. araucana - A. araucana is an upright, evergreen tree with stiff, overlapping, scale-like leaves in spirals around sweeping, tiered branches.
Araucaria araucana is: Evergreen
Habit
Open branches, Rounded, Upright
Foliage
Dark-green in All seasons
How to care
Watch out for
Honey fungus Honey fungus
General care
Propagation
Take cuttings from vertical branches in midsummer. Cuttings from horizontal branches will not form upright trees.
Propagation methods
Seed, Semi-ripe cuttings
Sign up for your FREE ACCOUNT today or login to receive detailed monthly care instructions
Where to grow
Araucaria araucana (Monkey puzzle) will reach a height of 20m and a spread of 10m after 20-50 years.
Suggested uses
Architectural, Coastal, Low Maintenance, Planted in groups, Salt tolerant, Specimen tree
Cultivation
Plant in any well-drained soil in any position except full shade. Water well when the tree is young. Plant in an open site with shelter from cold, drying winds.
Soil type
Clay, Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
North, South, East, West
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
Companion plants
We do not currently have companion plants added for this plant.
Botanical name
Araucaria araucana
Other names
Monkey puzzle, Chile pine, Chilean pine
Genus
Araucaria Araucaria
Species
A. araucana - A. araucana is an upright, evergreen tree with stiff, overlapping, scale-like leaves in spirals around sweeping, tiered branches.
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Open branches, Rounded, Upright
Create your free Shoot garden
Create your free SHOOT garden and make a record of the plants in your garden.
Add your own photos, notes, get monthly email reminders on how to care for your plants, and connect with other gardeners. Get started now.
Colour
Foliage
Dark-green in All seasons
How to care
Watch out for
Specific diseases
General care
Propagation
Take cuttings from vertical branches in midsummer. Cuttings from horizontal branches will not form upright trees.
Propagation methods
Seed, Semi-ripe cuttings
Monthly care advice
Get access to monthly care advice
Create a free SHOOT account and get instant access to expert care advice for this and other plants in your garden.
You'll also receive handy monthly email reminders of what needs doing. Create your free account.
Where to grow
Araucaria araucana (Monkey puzzle) will reach a height of 20m and a spread of 10m after 20-50 years.
Suggested uses
Architectural, Coastal, Low Maintenance, Planted in groups, Salt tolerant, Specimen tree
Cultivation
Plant in any well-drained soil in any position except full shade. Water well when the tree is young. Plant in an open site with shelter from cold, drying winds.
Soil type
Clay, Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
North, South, East, West
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
USDA zones
Zone 9, Zone 8, Zone 7
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Clay, Loamy, Sandy | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Moist but well-drained, Well-drained | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Partial Shade, Full Sun | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | North, South, East, West | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Hardy (H4) | Tell us... |
GARDENS WITH THIS PLANT
ARTICLES WITH THIS PLANT
The rags to riches story of 19th century emigrants who travelled abroad to make their fortune and then return home to north west Spain to build lavish mansions and gardens, will be retold in an… read more
The garden, created by award-winning designer Sarah Eberle, underlines that we need to increase tree cover, diversify planting and follow biosecurity guidelines to help protect our landscapes from… read more
By West London based garden designer Jonathan Snow. This year, Jonathan and Trailfinders want to transport visitors several thousand miles west around the globe, to the temperate rainforests of South… read more
Report content or feedback to Shoot
To add ? to your lists,
login to your account or subscribe.
Find out more about plant lists here
or Login
To add notes for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To add images for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To check if this plant is suitable for your garden first login to your account or subscribe.
or Login