Unlike any evergreen in North America, the Chilian pine, commonly called the monkey puzzle tree, is a rare and endangered conifer native to Chile and is hardy to USDA zones 7-10. Providing year-round interest, it has a loose pyramidal shape when young but develops an umbrella-like crown with the loss of lower branches as the tree ages. Thick, leathery scale leaves completely cover rope-like branches and are stiff, dark green and glossy with a spiny tip. Bark is gray-brown and ridged. A. araucana is a slow grower that can eventually reach heights up to 100 feet with a canopy 50 feet wide.
