Gerald L. Klingaman
Family
Araucariaceae
Botanical Name
ARAUCARIA heterophylla
Plant Common Name
Norfolk Island Pine
General Description
The Norfolk Island pine is a cone-bearing evergreen tree native to Norfolk Island, just east of Australia. It is a large, tall, upright, elegant tree with whorled branches and dark green, fan-like, needle-type foliage. The short, little needles are leathery and linear, densely arranged in flexible, caterpillar-like fingers upon the lateral branches. At the tree's tip, the newest branch growth resembles a graphic, five or six-pointed star with V-form foliage. It produces cones that are either fully male or female, both on the same tree but at different locations.
Norfolk Island pine does best in full sun exposures in a well drained soil. It is quite tolerant along salty beaches and of a wide range of soil pH, quite often used as a street tree, focal plant or beach row windbreak. Plant it in a spacious location as it towers skyward and will drop branches as a means to survive an intense windstorm. Members of the Araucaria can sprout new horizontal branches from its trunk, which is quite rare for a mature conifer tree. It has become a popular gift potted plant for indoor use at Christmas, but as a houseplant soon grows too large for average indoor rooms. Do not position this tree near building foundations! It can be hard-pruned back to its roots to rejuvenate as a shorter, dense, multi-stemmed large shrub. This technique can also be employed every several years to never allow a very tall, single-trunked tree from developing.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
11 - 1
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USDA Hardiness Zone
9 - 11
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Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 17, 21, 22, 23, 24
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Plant Type
Tree
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade
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Height
80'-150' / 24.4m - 45.7m (90)
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Width
15'-30' / 4.6m - 9.1m (20)
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Bloom Time
Spring
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Native To
Australia
Growing Conditions
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Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
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Soil Drainage
Well Drained
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Soil type
Loam, Sand
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Tolerances
Drought, Salt, Soil Compaction
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Growth Rate
Fast
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Water Requirements
Drought Tolerant, Average Water
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Habit
Pyramidal
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Seasonal Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Insignificant
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Flower Color
Green
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Fruit Color
Green
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Dark Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Dark Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Dark Green
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Foliage Color (Winter)
Dark Green
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Bark Color
Brown, Sienna
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Fragrant Flowers
No
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
No
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
No
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Foliage Texture
Fine
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Foliage Sheen
Glossy
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Evergreen
Yes
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Showy Bark
No
Special Characteristics
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Bark Texture
Fissured
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Usage
Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Screening / Wind Break, Shade Trees, Street Trees, Tropical
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Sharp or Has Thorns
No
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Invasive
No
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Self-Sowing
No
