Comments:  Araucaria araucana or Monkey Puzzle Tree or Araucaria imbricata is an exotic evergreen coniferous tree with whorled, horizontal branching growth habit.  It is a native of south-central Chile and west central Argentina.  Araucaria araucana has a long straight trunk, is cone-shaped and has a rounded appearance at maturity.  It looks very much like Norfolk Island Pine.  Araucaria imbricata is propagated from seeds.  It thrives best in well-drained, acidic soil in a sunny location.  Monkey Puzzle Tree tolerates coastal conditions and is hardy to -4 degrees Fahrenheit.  Young trees branch from the ground upwards and loses the lower branches as the tree ages.  The densely-spaced evergreen leaves of Araucaria araucana are 1-2" long, triangular-shaped, tough, thick, leathery, scale-like, sharp margins and pointed tips borne on rope-like branchlets. The foliage usually takes about 15 years to change.  Monkey Puzzle Tree enjoys temperate climates with plenty of rainfall.  Araucaria imbricata can live as long as a thousand years, thus earning its nickname 'living fossil tree'.  It produces cones which ripens by self propagate.  Grow two trees for pollination to take place.  Monkey Puzzle Tree takes 30-40 years to produce seeds.   Female seedcones are produced in the Fall 18 months after pollinated by wind.  Each cone contains about 200 seeds.  Jays and squirrels help transport the nut-like seeds.  The seeds have short shelf like and need to be sown as soon as possible.   In its native habitat, it is found growing as tall as 100 feet in the rich volcanic soil in the Andes Mountain in Argentina and Chile.  Araucaria imbricata is popularly cultivated by many gardeners for its ornamental beauty.  It attracts attention and makes a great conversation piece.  Interestingly, Monkey Puzzle Tree is the national tree of Chile.

USDA Zones:  7b-10