Araucaria araucana, Monkey Puzzle Tree

From the Andes of Central Chile, northern Patagonia, and Argentina comes this 50–80' spiny and marvelously geometric evergreen tree with a spread of 20–30'. "In captivity" it is more likely to grow to 30 or 40' tall. In Chile it is protected today because of its endangered status. The Missouri Botanic Garden has it that the "Common name reportedly comes from a comment made in England in the mid-1800s where an observer of a specimen tree growing in Cornwall remarked that "it would puzzle a monkey to climb that tree." It's more likely to be a complete monkey deterrent if you are so in need.

Properties/conditions:

• conifer
• deer-resistant
• drought-tolerant
• evergreen
• intermittent water
• sun or part shade