Monkey puzzle trees also known as Chilean pine or Araucaria araucana are truly unique and fascinating evergreen conifers that make a striking addition to any landscape. Their distinctive appearance, with thick angular branches and overlapping dark green foliage, gives them an exotic prehistoric look.
Read this complete guide if you want to know everything you need to know about monkey puzzle trees before you buy one.
An Ancient Living Fossil
The monkey puzzle tree has existed for over 200 million years, making it one of the oldest tree species on Earth. Native to central and southern Chile and western Argentina, it thrived during the age of dinosaurs The sharp, closely overlapped leaves deterred dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals from feeding on it Hence the common name “monkey puzzle tree”- the spiky foliage would puzzle even monkeys trying to climb it!
The monkey puzzle tree is now grown all over the world as an ornamental tree. In the wild, adults can grow to be more than 130 feet tall. When grown in a garden, they usually get 30 to 40 feet tall and 15 to 20 feet wide. It takes them a while to grow, but as the tree gets older, it speeds up.
The Distinctive Appearance
Monkey puzzle trees have a very distinctive appearance unlike any other tree. They have:
- A symmetrical, pyramidal shape (triangular when young)
- Thick horizontal branches covered in dense dark green foliage
- Overlapping scale-like leaves arranged in circular rows around the branches. The sharp leaves can reach 1.5 inches long.
- Young trees have soft bright green new growth that contrasts nicely against the deeper mature foliage
The bark is reddish-brown and deeply grooved when mature. Large female seed cones take 2-3 years to mature. They measure up to 5 inches long and 3 inches wide and contain over 200 edible nuts with thin shells.
Male pollen cones that are up to 6 inches long may grow on monkey puzzle trees in the winter. When the pollen cones open in the spring, they release clouds of yellow pollen.
Choosing the Right Environment
When searching for monkey puzzle trees for sale, it’s important to choose a variety suited to your planting zone. There are two main cultivars available:
Araucaria araucana is a common wild plant that can survive temperatures as low as -10°F once it is established. Best for zones 7-10.
Araucaria araucana ‘Monkey Puzzle’ – A slightly more cold hardy selection tolerant to -20°F when mature. Suitable for zones 6-9.
Monkey puzzle trees thrive in full sun or partial shade and do well in most soil types, as long as the soil is well-drained. They prefer acidic to slightly alkaline soil with a pH of 5.5-7.5.
While young trees appreciate regular watering, mature specimens become highly drought tolerant. They make excellent xeriscape plants for low water gardens.
Shopping for Healthy Specimens
When buying monkey puzzle trees for sale, look for specimens with:
- A healthy, balanced shape and branching structure
- No major defects or damage to the trunk, branches or leaves
- Leaves that are whole, intact and deep green in color
- Evidence of new growth and buds on branch tips
- No signs of pests, diseases or nutrient deficiencies
The roots should be well-developed but not severely pot-bound or girdling inside the container. Avoid trees with roots growing out of drainage holes or circling tightly along the container edges.
Purchasing younger saplings around 1-5 feet tall allows you to shape them as they grow. More mature 8-10 feet specimens make a bold instant impact but are harder to train. Make sure larger trees are staked securely at the nursery before transporting them.
Always inspect the tree’s tag to verify you’re buying the desired variety suitable for your zone. Ask the nursery about the tree’s origins, growing conditions and age. Reputable sellers should provide accurate information and advice.
Transplanting Tips
Monkey puzzle trees have a vigorous root system and grow best when planted directly in the landscape. Follow these tips for successful transplanting:
- Prepare the planting area well in advance by loosening soil, removing weeds/debris, and amending with compost if needed
- Dig a wide, bowl-shaped planting hole 2-3 times the width of the root ball
- Carefully remove the tree from its container without damaging roots
- Place into planting hole at the same depth as it was growing in the pot
- Backfill with native soil, tamping firmly to remove air pockets
- Water thoroughly and add mulch around the base to conserve moisture
- Stake the trunk as needed to stabilize the tree while new roots establish
Container-grown saplings adapt readily when planted properly. Monitor soil moisture closely and shelter young trees from harsh weather fluctuations until they acclimate.
Ongoing Care
Once established, monkey puzzle trees are quite resilient and low-maintenance. Follow these care guidelines to keep your tree healthy:
- Water young trees during dry periods until well established; mature trees are drought tolerant
- Avoid overwatering which causes root rot; allow soil to dry between waterings
- Fertilize in early spring using a slow-release tree fertilizer or organic equivalent
- Prune only to remove deadwood; avoid heavy pruning which disrupts the natural shape
- Mulch around the base with 2-4 inches of wood chips or pine straw to conserve moisture
- Protect young trees from extreme cold and windy conditions
- Monitor for pests like spider mites, scale, borers; treat promptly if found
- Transplant containerized trees before they become rootbound
Left alone, monkey puzzle trees develop a beautiful natural form that adds powerful visual impact to the landscape. Their virtually pest- and disease-free nature makes them ideal low maintenance trees once established.
Where to Buy Monkey Puzzle Trees
Reputable online mail order nurseries offer the widest selection of mature monkey puzzle trees for sale:
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Burnt Ridge Nursery – Offers Chilean pine saplings 1-4 feet tall for zones 6-9
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Wilson Bros Gardens – Sells larger specimens up to 10 feet tall in 3, 5 or 15 gallon containers
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Fast Growing Trees Nursery – Carries both Araucaria varieties in #3, #5 and #7 size pots
Buying online allows you to choose exactly the tree you want. Reputable sellers ship with care to protect the tree. Local garden centers may carry a limited selection based on seasonal inventory.
Bring Prehistory to Your Landscape
With their unique tropical look and living fossil legacy spanning epochs, monkey puzzle trees create a truly primeval effect in the landscape. If you can provide the right growing conditions and minimal care when young, they develop into magnificent low-maintenance specimens. Just be sure to give their spike-tipped branches wide clearance!
How to propagate a monkey puzzle tree
Seeds of the monkey puzzle tree. Getty s
Monkey puzzle trees are usually dioecious, which means that the male and female cones grow on separate trees. The male cones are elongated or oval shaped, while the female cones are large and round. In time, these fall to the ground, usually in autumn, releasing their seeds. If you are allowed to take some, make sure they come from a female tree because the seeds should be fat and plump instead of thin and flat. Sow straightaway, while they are fresh. You need to plant your seeds right away if you bought them online because they were kept in cold storage.
Soak in water for up to 24 hours then sow, pointed tips facing down and the tops uncovered. They need to be at 20°C to germinate, which can take anywhere from a few weeks to a couple of months. You can put them in a propagator, a greenhouse, or a sunny windowsill. Transplant the seedlings once they are large enough into bigger pots. Plant into their final position after two or three years.
Where to grow a monkey puzzle tree
Grow in a sheltered spot in full sun or partial shade in fertile, moist but free-draining soil. Give it plenty of space as it will ultimately reach a height and width of 25m x 10m – this tree is only suitable for a large garden.
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FAQ
How quickly does a monkey puzzle tree grow?
Answer and Explanation: Monkey-puzzle trees are relatively slow-growing trees, especially in their early lives. For the first five to ten years of their lives, they are unlikely to grow above grass level. Once they hit that mark, they tend to grow at a rate of about 35 centimeters per year.
Can you grow a monkey puzzle tree in the US?
To grow a monkey puzzle tree successfully, you will need a warm climate and an area with ample sunlight. Typically, these trees will survive as far north as USDA hardiness zone 7. Their warmest growing USDA hardiness zone is 10.
Can you buy monkey puzzle trees?
Nationwide Delivery, including Large and Extra large plants and trees – delivery calculated at checkout. Estimated Delivery: 5-12 days subject to your delivery post code*. – Buy Now, pay in 3 instalments (Split your payment into 3 smaller instalments over 60 days).
Can monkey puzzle tree survive winter?
Monkey puzzle tree requires no protection against the winter cold when grown in-ground in its established hardiness range. Gardeners growing it as a container plant in cold-winter regions should move it indoors as temperatures begin to dip below freezing.
What is a monkey puzzle tree?
Evergreen nut tree native to Chile, the Monkey Puzzle Tree (Araucaria araucana) evolved their sharp leaves over 100 million years ago to deter dinosaurs from browsing. With cross pollination, these trees produce huge cones filled with tasty and delicious seeds similar to pine nuts. Hardy to Zone 6 and grows well in the Pacific Northwest.
How big do monkey puzzle trees get?
Many people feel drawn to monkey puzzle trees because of their distinct appearance. What they often fail to recognize is that these trees can grow to be very large. At maturity, they may be more than one hundred feet tall. So, it is important to give your monkey puzzle trees plenty of space to grow and expand during your planting stage.
When do monkey puzzle trees come out?
Once your monkey tree is old enough, its fruits will emerge in mid to late summer. Many people feel drawn to monkey puzzle trees because of their distinct appearance. What they often fail to recognize is that these trees can grow to be very large. At maturity, they may be more than one hundred feet tall.
Are pots & accessories included in a monkey puzzle tree?
Pots or accessories are not included unless specified in the product options. People who want a tree that is a little different should think about getting a monkey puzzle tree. The Araucaria araucana is the national tree of Chile and is well known in South America. However, this species is not common in other parts of the world.
Can a monkey puzzle tree grow a nut?
But when it does, it will begin to produce edible, nut-like seeds that are similar to pine nuts. To produce those fruits, you will need both a male and female version of the monkey puzzle tree. Occasionally, a monkey puzzle tree will grow as a hermaphrodite, which simplifies the fruit-producing process.
How long does it take a monkey puzzle tree to grow?
It can take multiple decades for a monkey puzzle tree to reach sexual maturity. But when it does, it will begin to produce edible, nut-like seeds that are similar to pine nuts. To produce those fruits, you will need both a male and female version of the monkey puzzle tree.