Monkey Puzzle Tree: True or False?

calypsonebula

I recently aquired an unusual spiky tree that had been sitting in a dark corner of a greenhouse. It was labeled a "monkey puzzle tree" which I remembered seeing (in a much larger size) at Bunratty Castle, Ireland.

I could not pass up this nostalgic tree - and have been reading up on it. I have read that this tree is often sold labeled as a monkey puzzle tree; Araucaria araucana however it is actually a Bunya-Bunya tree; Araucaria Bidwillii.

I have read that the monkey puzzle has been known to produce spiky cones weighing up to 17 pounds! I have also heard that they are armed with spikes - sometimes impaling cars as they descend.

1) Judging by the photographs is this a Monkey Puzzle or a Bunya Bunya?

Also, due to limited space I am considering drastic pruning of this tree - cutting it down to about 50% of its 3ft size. *I am NOT considering this tree for bonsai due to its slow-growth habit and lack of taper.

2) Would anyone happen to know if drastic trunk-chopping would put this tree's wellness in peril?


Thank you for any help.

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Cathie

I don't know about Bunya bunya, but that isn't an araucana, unless it does have ? juvenile foliage like the ferny ones yours does and I've been unaware of it all this time.

rxweitz

I would say Bunya-bunya. They are both very similar trees, but the leaves on bidwillii tend to grow out of opposite sides of the branch, whereas the leaves on auracana grow in a spiral all around the branch.

I'll have to defer to someone else on the trunk-chop question. I've never seen one of these grown in a container; only as landscape specimens. I did recently see an Araucaria heterophylla about 10 feet tall growing in a container inside a two-story stairwell. It looked like the leader had died, but it was sending up new shoots, so it might be possible to chop it. On the other hand, I know that Araucaria in general are a bit touchy. There was a Monkey-puzzle tree growing near downtown Bainbridge Island that died recently when they put in a sidewalk near it. The foliage on the lower branches started turning brown, and it just continued right up to the top. They replaced it with a new one that seems to be doing okay so far.

Good luck with this tree.

calypsonebula

Thank you - I have read that it is possible for the Bunya Bunya to be sold labeled as a Monkey Puzzle tree since the name is a little more intriguing. It does appear that the leaves follow a similar growth pattern you mentioned.

I will take both of you observations on the indoor growing Araucaria heterophylla - and the deceased MP near downtown Bainbridge Island. Maybe the latter case may suggest that the roots may be sensitive if disturbed. I've also read recently (and its been my experience) that the Norfolk pine has a similar growth habit that eventually sheds its bottom branches during growth. Thank you for the observations!

Has anyone had any other pruning experiences with the false Monkey Puzzle/Bunya Bunya tree?

treebeard55

Definitely a bunya-bunya. A conservatory near here has one, so I recognize it.

Monkey-puzzle foliage surrounds the branch, so that from a distance the branch looks like it's covered with (coarse) fur. I've seen one monkey-puzzle bearing cones, at Mt Usher Gardens in Co. Wicklow, Ireland. The cones were held upright on the branch, almost round, and almost the size of a cantalope.

There's an apocryphal story of how the "bunya-bunya" got its name: an aboriginal Australian backed into one, and that was his response!

__________________
Treebeard 55

"... the Lord God made all kinds of trees ... trees that were pleasing to the eye ..." (Genesis 2:9, NIV.)

DrDirt

Are you sure it's not cunninghamia? (sp)

treebeard55

Doesn't Cunninghamia have needles? This tree has stiff leaves.

__________________
Treebeard 55

"... the Lord God made all kinds of trees ... trees that were pleasing to the eye ..." (Genesis 2:9, NIV.)