Araucaria columnaris (New Caledonian Pine)

Araucaria columnaris (New Caledonian Pine) is a narrow columnar evergreen conifer with short, mostly horizontal branches that grow in whorls around the slender, upright to slightly leaning trunk. The branches are lined with cord-like, horizontal branchlets clad with small, green, incurved, spirally arranged, overlapping leaves. The juvenile leaves are needle-like while the adult leaves are scale-like and triangular. The bark is gray, rough and resinous, exfoliating in thin strips. New Caledonian Pine is dioecious, with the male and female cones on separate trees. The female cones, up to 6 in long (15 cm), are upright, scaly, egg-shaped and located in the upper branches. The male cones, up to 4 in. long (10 cm), are drooping, scaly, cylindrical and hang from the lower branches. Araucaria columnaris is a popular garden tree in warm temperate climates. It is a magnificent focal point on a lawn and an excellent street tree.

• Grows up to 160-200 ft. tall (50-60 m) and 30-50 ft. wide (9-15 m). Grows 12 to 24 in. (30-60 cm) per year.
• Performs best in full sun in moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soils. Provide a site sheltered from cold, drying winds.
• Generally pest and disease free. Keep an eye our for root rot in poorly-drained soils.
• No routine pruning necessary. Remove diseased, damaged, congested or crossing shoots.
• Native to New Caledonia.