PLANT OF THE MONTH JANUARY

Araucaria araucana (Monkey puzzle, Chile pine)

Family: Araucariaceae

Origin: Chile, Argentina

 The monkey puzzle is an evergreen conifer native to Chile and Argentina. It was introduced to England by Archibald Menzies in 1795. Its branches are clothed in sharply pointed, triangular dark green leaves, and mature plants bear cones on the upper branches, usually male and female on separate trees. It has existed for 200 million years, and each tree can live for 1,000 years. Once logged for its fine knot-free timber, it is now listed as 'endangered' on the IUCN’s Global Red List of Conifers.

 Find it in the Americas section of the Garden