adroll_adv_id = "RK545AVNKVEJFFRYPAE7DC"; adroll_pix_id = "T5DEBSDHVFG4FA3KSLHHKJ"; adroll_version = "2.0"; adroll_current_page = "other"; adroll_currency = "USD"; adroll_language = "en_US";
  • Privacy Trees
    • Thuja Green Giant
    • Leyland Cypress
    • Emerald Green Arborvitae
  • Evergreen Trees
    • Column 1
      • Arborvitae Trees
      • Cedar Trees
      • Cryptomeria Trees
      • Cypress Trees
      • Fir Trees
    • Column 2
      • Holly Trees
      • Juniper Trees
      • Pine Trees
      • Spruce Trees
      • Thuja Trees
  • Shade Trees
    • Column 1
      • Birch Trees
      • Japanese Maple Trees
      • Maple Trees
      • Willow Trees
    • Column 2
      • Oak Trees
      • Poplar Trees
      • Sycamore Trees
      • Other Shade Trees
  • Flowering Trees
    • Column 1
      • Crape Myrtle Trees
      • Dogwood Trees
      • Flowering Cherry Trees
      • Flowering Pear Trees
    • Column 2
      • Flowering Plum Trees
      • Magnolia Trees
      • Redbud Trees
      • Other Flowering Trees
  • Fruit Trees
  • Shrubs And Hedges
    • Column 1
      • Barberry
      • Boxwood
      • Butterfly Bush
      • Cherry Laurels
      • Encore Azaleas
      • Gardenias
    • Column 2
      • Hydrangeas
      • Knockout Roses
      • Lilacs
      • Rhododendrons
      • Wisteria
      • Other Shrubs & Hedges
  • Houseplants
    • Palm Trees
    • Tropicals

Order Online or Call Us Toll-Free at: 888-329-0140

Login

Login
$0.00
No products in the cart
Go to shop
Contact Us
My Growing Zone
What's my Growing Zone?
Enter your Zip Code below:
LOWEST PRICES ONLINE
Guaranteed! Show us a lower
price and we'll match it!
The Tree Center
paypal
FREE SHIPPING OVER $100
Orders typically ship the
very next business day
  • Privacy Trees
    • Thuja Green Giant
    • Leyland Cypress
    • Emerald Green Arborvitae
  • Evergreen Trees
    • Column 1
      • Arborvitae Trees
      • Cedar Trees
      • Cryptomeria Trees
      • Cypress Trees
      • Fir Trees
    • Column 2
      • Holly Trees
      • Juniper Trees
      • Pine Trees
      • Spruce Trees
      • Thuja Trees
  • Shade Trees
    • Column 1
      • Birch Trees
      • Japanese Maple Trees
      • Maple Trees
      • Willow Trees
    • Column 2
      • Oak Trees
      • Poplar Trees
      • Sycamore Trees
      • Other Shade Trees
  • Flowering Trees
    • Column 1
      • Crape Myrtle Trees
      • Dogwood Trees
      • Flowering Cherry Trees
      • Flowering Pear Trees
    • Column 2
      • Flowering Plum Trees
      • Magnolia Trees
      • Redbud Trees
      • Other Flowering Trees
  • Fruit Trees
  • Shrubs And Hedges
    • Column 1
      • Barberry
      • Boxwood
      • Butterfly Bush
      • Cherry Laurels
      • Encore Azaleas
      • Gardenias
    • Column 2
      • Hydrangeas
      • Knockout Roses
      • Lilacs
      • Rhododendrons
      • Wisteria
      • Other Shrubs & Hedges
  • Houseplants
    • Palm Trees
    • Tropicals
Menu Shopping Cart

All About The Monkey Puzzle Tree

Home Informative All About The Monkey Puzzle Tree
All About The Monkey Puzzle Tree
Sep 12, 2015 | Posted by Fergus Mason | Informative | 3 comments |

An ancient and curious tree, the Chilean Pine has been fascinating people for generations. Of course you might be wondering what a Chilean Pine is – it’s best known by the name Monkey Puzzle Tree, which itself is something of a conundrum as there are no monkeys in its natural habitat.

The monkey puzzle tree is most at home clinging to the sides of mountains, particularly volcanoes. What’s particularly interesting about this is that the bark of the tree is resistant to fire, meaning clusters of them can actually survive lava flows. Usually found at around 3,300 feet above sea level and higher, this gives a good indication of the type of conditions the tree prefers – although, in good news for gardeners, it is not especially picky. The monkey puzzle tree is usually happiest in well drained and slightly acidic soil, with volcanic soil being the best. This said they are remarkably unfussy and can be grown in domestic gardens without much difficulty, just as long as you’re not affected by high levels of pollution. They don’t take kindly to it.

Plant one in the right spot, though, and you’re in for a treat. The monkey puzzle has a lot of growth potential. Many conifers can reach skywards dramatically and this one is no exception, with mature heights of 40m (130ft) not uncommon, but it does take a while to get there. These are slow growing trees, that are unlikely to even start fruiting before 20 years of age, but they make up for it with a very long lifespan; when you plant one in your garden you are planting a tree that will last for generations – anything up to a thousand years. The species itself is even more long-lived; these remarkable plants have been around for 200million years. Its spiny leaves are thought to have evolved to protect the tree from grazing dinosaurs, which is perhaps why we are lucky enough to still have them gracing our landscapes today.

Monkey Puzzle Tree

Like many conifers the monkey puzzle bears cones on distinct male and female trees, but infrequently some trees will produce both sexes of fruit. The male cones take up to two years to mature and are almost five inches long when ready to release their pollen. Cylindrical in shape and resembling a burnished red cucumber, they are easy to tell apart from their female counterparts which appear a year and a half after pollination. These are very large and globular, and by the time they’re ready to release their two-inch seeds these pods are almost eight inches in diameter. Each female cone will release 200 seeds into the environment as the casing breaks down and disintegrates.

With seed numbers like this you might imagine that the monkey puzzle tree would have no trouble surviving. Sadly this is not the case, and in 2013 they were declared an endangered species. This is due mostly deforestation and the desirable commercial qualities of their wood. Although commercial felling of these trees was banned in 1990, there are still cases of illegal logging reported today. The seeds have long been used as a food source and this practice has also impacted the trees’ ability to survive. As if these problems weren’t troublesome enough a vast number of trees have been destroyed in forest fires, including many in the early 21st century. This might be surprising given their ability to withstand lava flows but it is the bark itself that is resistant, and thanks to their oil rich leaves they burn relatively easily if the fires are large enough. Sadly, national parks that suffered large fires lost some ancient specimens that were over 1,300 years old. However there are planting projects underway that should prevent further decline.

USDA Hardiness Zone 7-10

It seems only right to end by answering the question of how the tree came by its familiar name. The natives of Chile call it Pehuén, and for those people it is a sacred tree. It was discovered by western biologists in the 1790s and not long afterwards examples were being planted in English gardens. One proud owner was Sir William Molesworth, who grew a fine specimen at his Cornish home, Pencarrow House. On looking at its striking spiked leaves his friend Charles Austin remarked, “It would puzzle a monkey to climb that.” Mr Austin’s comment stuck, and that’s how the monkey puzzle tree got its name.

Save

Save

3 Comments
7
Share

3 Comments

Leave your reply.
  • Carole
    · Reply

    January 28, 2018 at 4:02 PM

    I have loved the Monkey tree since growing up in Aberdeen, Washington. Our neighbors had one and I just loved it. Probably the only tree that I could recognize as a child. Now in my 70’s I finally have one of my own. We have picked a spot to plant it and give me a view of it from my favorite chair, I just love it, Thank you Susie for the best Xmas gift ever!

  • Richardordaz330@gmail.com
    · Reply

    March 23, 2018 at 12:32 AM

    Hello I have a question about the monkey puzzle tree what hardiness zones is this beautiful tree expected to to do well in most of it’s zone info always says zones 6-9 or 7-9 in I live in Texas close to the gulf of Mexico which is south

    • Barbara
      · Reply

      November 23, 2018 at 6:08 PM

      Hey did you get an answer? Live in Houston and interested in planting one

Leave a Reply

Your email is safe with us.
Cancel Reply

Categories

  • Diseases And Pests
  • Evergreen Trees
  • Flowering Trees
  • Fruit Trees
  • Guides
  • Informative
  • News
  • Ornamental Trees
  • Plant Guides
  • Privacy Trees
  • Shade Trees
  • Shrubs And Hedges
  • Tree Care
  • Uncategorized

Recent Comments

  • Dave G on Cold Hardy Holly Bushes
  • Mary Kritz on Cold Hardy Holly Bushes
  • Dave G on The Story of Lilacs
  • judykirk100 on The Story of Lilacs
  • Dave G on Trees and Shrubs for Florida

Recent Posts

  • Rebloom or Encore Azaleas – Which Should I Grow?
  • Th Taming of the Mountain Laurel
  • Eastern Arborvitae – the Tree for Cold Seasons
  • The Story of Lilacs
  • Japanese Maples – Bark Can be Beautiful Too
Register for an account and get discounts, gardening tips, six-pack abs and more! Sign Up Today!


We ship amazingly beautiful and healthy trees directly to your door! Let's cultivate this earth together!

Contact Info

  • The Tree Center
  • (888) 329-0140
  • www.thetreecenter.com
  • Contact Us
  • The Tree Center Reviews
  • The Tree Center Etsy Reviews
  • The Tree Center Houzz Reviews

About Us

  • About The Tree Center
  • Order Status
  • FAQ's
  • How We Ship
  • Returns
  • Warranty
  • Reviews

Educational Info

  • Blog
  • Arrive Alive Guarantee
  • Hardiness Zone Map
  • Trees For Your State
  • Planting Guide
  • Fast Growing Trees

© 2019 · The Tree Center

Prev Next