[max]

Hi All,

Does anyone knows what is the names of this beautiful tree and where I can buy this?

What is required climate conditions for this tree?

Thanks in advance for a help.

max

[MargeSimpson]

isn't that a monkey tree? I think!

[sandra12]

Thats what I thought MargeSimpson. we call them monkey puzzle trees as my grandad used to say its the only tree a monkey couldnt climb. It would puzzle a monkey with its spikes.

[inishindie]

Hi

The Monkey Puzzle tree, (Araucaria Araucana) is also known as the Chilean pine, and is native to the Andes Mountains of Chile and Argentina.

A bit of trivia

Archibald Menzies, a prolific plant collector, introduced the tree to England in 1795. The monkey-puzzle tree quickly became popular among Victorian gardeners. They like full sun to partial shade and will tolerate most types of soil. The seeds are edible and are widely cultivated in Chile, but you wont get any for about 30-40 years I am afraid..... They like lots of water. You could get one from most garden centres of even grow your own by seeds or by tip cuttings from vertical shoots. Cuttings from lateral-growing shoots will develop into sprawling shrubs.


A bit of extra waffle

Your grandad was right Sarah 12 - Legend has it that an owner of a young tree specimen in Cornwall was showing it to a group of friends, and one made the remark,"it would puzzle a monkey to climb that".

The popular name became, first 'monkey-puzzler', then 'monkey-puzzle'.

They can be an intersting adition to the garden but please don't plant it close to the house as they can grow up to 150 feet in height. I have seen loads in front gardens, inches away form the front room windows...they grow about 35 cm a year which doesn't seem a lot but it would soon block out the light.


Cheers

Ian
_________________
www.gardening.ie

[max]

Thanks a lot !!!

Cheers

Max