Monkey puzzle
Araucaria araucana · Araucariaceae
📷 Vicente Fernández Rioja · CC BY-SA 4.0
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around monkey puzzle and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Scientific name
- Araucaria araucana
- Family
- Araucariaceae
- Foliage
- Evergreen, sharp triangular scales
- Mature size
- 15 m tall, narrow pyramidal habit
- Growth
- Slow
- Hardiness
- Down to −15 °C in humid climates
- Origin
- Andean forests of southern Chile and Argentina
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability medium.
Expert tips
The key tip
Araucaria demands impeccable drainage and hates being moved around—find the right spot from the start. Water moderately in summer, almost nothing in winter.
The common mistake
Too much water or poor drainage: roots rot quickly, often with no visible signs until sudden collapse.
The pro's trick
At planting, create a small mound of potting mix blended with perlite or gravel.
Care
Light
Your Araucaria araucana appreciates a sunny location, ideally south or west-facing. It tolerates partial shade but develops a less compact habit in low light. Protect it from drying winds that damage its delicate foliage.
Watering
Keep the soil moist but well-drained, particularly during the growing season (spring-summer). Allow it to dry slightly between waterings in winter. In containers, check substrate moisture regularly and avoid waterlogging.
Soil and drainage
Prefer acidic to neutral soil rich in organic matter and well-drained. A mix of ericaceous soil, potting compost and perlite works perfectly. This tree dreads root asphyxiation.
Fertilizer
Apply balanced diluted fertilizer in spring and summer, once monthly. A light potassium boost in autumn prepares the plant for winter. Avoid excess nitrogen which would weaken its habit.
Pruning and maintenance
Your Araucaria requires little pruning; simply remove dead or diseased branches. Respect its natural pyramidal habit. Young potted plants benefit from light shaping to encourage branching.
Pests and diseases
Watch for spider mites in dry indoor conditions and scale insects on the foliage. Stagnant excess moisture can cause root rot. Ventilate regularly and check drainage.
Did you know?
Araucaria araucana is the national tree of Chile and can live over 1,000 years in the mountains. Its ancestors populated Pangaea: it is a living fossil whose closest species date back to the Jurassic period!
Where to buy it
Best planted in autumn so the roots settle in before summer, or in early spring once the frost has passed. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, October, November.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Norfolk Island AraucariaAraucaria heterophylla
- Araucaria angustifoliaAraucaria angustifolia
- SageSalvia officinalis
- Pedunculate oakQuercus robur
- GrapevineVitis vinifera
- CamelliaCamellia japonica
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.