General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Tree
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Soil pH Preferences: Slightly acid (6.1 – 6.5)
Neutral (6.6 – 7.3)
Slightly alkaline (7.4 – 7.8)
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 7a -17.8 °C (0 °F) to -15 °C (5 °F)
Plant Height: up to 130 feet
Plant Spread: 20 to 30 feet
Leaves: Evergreen
Other: Sharply pointed
Flowers: Inconspicuous
Underground structures: Taproot
Uses: Provides winter interest
Useful for timber production
Edible Parts: Seeds or Nuts
Fruit
Eating Methods: Cooked
Resistances: Salt tolerant
Propagation: Seeds: Self fertile
Pollinators: Wind
Containers: Not suitable for containers
Miscellaneous: Tolerates poor soil
Dioecious
Endangered: Listed as 'Endangered' by the IUCN.
Conservation status: Endangered (EN)

Conservation status:
Conservation status: Endangered
Image
Common names
  • Monkey Puzzle Tree
  • Monkey-Puzzle Tree
  • Pehuen
  • Chilean Pine
  • Monkey Tail Tree

Photo Gallery
Location: Christchurch, New Zealand
Date: 2016-02-04
Location: Zone 6b. 
Date: 2023-06-11
Parc des Bastions, Geneva, Switzerland
Location: Bea's garden
Date: 2022
Location: Nationale Plantentuin Meise (Botanical Garden near Brussels)
Date: 2022-10-17
Location: Nationale Plantentuin Meise (Botanical Garden near Brussels)

Date: 2022-07-07
Location: Matthaei Botanical Gardens, Ann Arbor, MI
Date: 2008-08-30
Location: Chester Springs, Pennsylvania
Date: 2019-04-06
specimen right outside greenhouse
Location: Belsay Hall garden, Northumberland UK
Date: 2010-03-07
Location: Crescent City, California
Date: 2013-11-24
Location: Iowa
Date: 2013-12-08
Location: Matthaei Botanical Gardens, Ann Arbor, MI
Date: 2008-08-30
with Flash
Location: Belsay Hall garden, Northumberland UK
Date: 2010-03-07
Location: Chile, Patagonia.  Fuerte Bulnes located by the Strait of Magellan.
Location: Near Duisburg, Germany
Date: 2008-01-22
10:48 am. The exotic Monkey Puzzle Tree is hardy to -20 degrees C
Location: Near Duisburg, Germany
Date: 2008-01-22
 10:49 am. Sharp prickly branch of the Monkey Puzzle Tree.
Location: Matthaei Botanical Gardens, Ann Arbor, MI
Date: 2008-08-30
Location: National Botanical Garden, DC, Virginia :) | May, 2022
Date: 2022-05-28
Location: Ecological Botanical Garden of the University of Bayreuth
Date: September
photo by El Grafo

Date: 2022-07-07
Location: Crescent City, California
Date: 4000-10-21
Location: Atlanta BG
Date: Aug 16
Location: Crescent City, California
Date: 4000-10-21
Location: Matthaei Botanical Gardens, Ann Arbor, MI
Date: 2011-03-19
Location: Matthaei Botanical Gardens, Ann Arbor, MI
Date: 2011-03-19
Location: Matthaei Botanical Gardens, Ann Arbor, MI
Date: 2008-08-30
with Flash
Location: Carlisle Park, Morpeth Northumberland
Date: 2019-01-31
Location: Floors castle garden, Scotland
Date: 2011-07-21
Location: Floors castle garden, Scotland
Date: 2011-07-21
Location: Ecological Botanical Garden of the University of Bayreuth
Date: September
photo by El Grafo

Photo courtesy of Singing Tree Gardens Nursery
  • Uploaded by Joy

Photo courtesy of Singing Tree Gardens Nursery
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: Chile, Patagonia.  Fuerte Bulnes located by the Strait of Magellan.
Location: Northumberland, UK  female
Date: 2007-06-04
Photo courtesy of: Sciadopitys

Date: 2022-07-07
Location: Northumberland, UK,  male
Date: 2007-06-04
Photo courtesy of: Sciadopitys
Location: Crescent City, California
Date: 4000-10-21
Location: Crescent City, California
Date: 4000-10-21
Location: Malleco Province, Araucania Region, Chile
credit: lautaroj
Location: Chillingham castle, Northumberland UK
Date: 2013-07-08
Comments:
  • Posted by ILPARW (southeast Pennsylvania - Zone 6b) on Apr 24, 2019 4:17 PM concerning plant:
    I've seen some in conservatories in big pots. There is a nice 10 to 12 feet high specimen growing outside all year next to the big greenhouse of a retail garden center in Chester Springs of southeast Pennsylvania in Zone 6b that has been doing fine for over 10 years. This tree is native to Chile and western Argentina in the cool climate, where it can snow in some places, in and near the lower Andes, and is the national tree of Chile. It goes back to the Age of the Dinosaurs. It is a member of the coniferous family of Auraucariaceae that is a mostly of the Southern Hemisphere . This tree can get up to 150 feet high with a seven feet wide trunk, but it takes a long time as it is slow growing. The male trees bear 3 to 5 inch wide rounded, spiny cones and the female trees bear 6 to 12 inch wide rounded spiny cones that bear the seeds about the size of almonds and are edible, even made into flour or fermented into a beverage. The species is endangered in its native habitat by logging and clearing land for agriculture. It does well in England, where it was a big fad for awhile in the 1800's. It is mentioned in the old movie of The Ghost and Mrs Muir.

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