The monkey puzzle tree, scientifically known as Araucaria araucana, is a distinctive, ancient conifer. Its appearance is recognizable by thick, scaly bark and stiff, spiky leaves spirally arranged around its branches. This evergreen tree has a prehistoric lineage, with ancestors coexisting with dinosaurs over 145 million years ago. Its unique, reptilian-like foliage and robust structure make it a living fossil.
Native Range in South America
The monkey puzzle tree’s natural habitat is in the Andes mountains of south-central Chile and western Argentina. In Chile, over 95% of its forests are in the Andes, typically at 1,000 to 1,600 meters above sea level, between latitudes 37°30’S and 39°40’S. Two smaller populations also exist in Chile’s coastal range, between 37°40’S and 38°40’S.
In Argentina, these trees grow in the Andes and Andean pre-cordillera from latitude 37°45’S to 40°20’S, at elevations between 900 and 1,800 meters. This native range has well-drained, often slightly acidic volcanic soils, ideal for the tree. The region has a temperate rainforest climate with cool, moist conditions. The monkey puzzle tree is adapted to disturbances like volcanic activity and fires, with thick bark that helps it survive.
Cultivation Around the World
Beyond its native South American range, the monkey puzzle tree is cultivated as an ornamental species worldwide. Its striking appearance makes it a popular choice for gardens and parks. It gained significant popularity in Europe, particularly in the United Kingdom, during the Victorian and Edwardian eras after its introduction in 1795.
Today, it is commonly found in ornamental plantings across Europe, North America (especially the Pacific Northwest and parts of the South and West Coast U.S.), Australia, and New Zealand. The tree’s hardiness in suitable climates contributes to its widespread cultivation. While cultivated specimens are typically smaller than their wild counterparts, often reaching 18-21 meters in height compared to up to 40 meters in native settings, they still maintain their unique aesthetic.
Environmental Requirements for Growth
The monkey puzzle tree thrives in environmental conditions mimicking its native high-altitude, volcanic habitats. It requires well-drained soil, often volcanic, but can tolerate a wide range of soil compositions, including clay, provided drainage is adequate, as it dislikes overly wet conditions.
The tree prefers temperate conditions with cool, moist weather, similar to its native temperate rainforests. It is frost hardy, surviving brief temperatures as low as -20 degrees Celsius (-4 degrees Fahrenheit), making it suitable for USDA hardiness zones 7 to 10. It needs ample sunlight, ideally at least six hours of direct sun daily, though it tolerates partial shade, especially in hotter summers.
Conservation Efforts
Despite its widespread cultivation as an ornamental tree, the monkey puzzle tree is categorized as endangered in its native habitat. The primary threats to its survival include deforestation, habitat loss due to agriculture, logging, overgrazing, and wildfires. Large-scale fires, some of which are human-induced, have dramatically impacted native araucaria forests, with significant portions being burned in recent decades.
Conservation efforts are underway to protect this species, including its designation as a National Monument in Chile in 1976, which prohibits logging. While logging is also protected in Argentina, illegal collection of its seeds and timber continues to pose a threat. Reforestation projects and the establishment of national parks in both Chile and Argentina aim to safeguard remaining populations. Botanical gardens worldwide are also contributing to conservation by maintaining ex-situ collections and participating in propagation programs to preserve genetic diversity.