Monkey-puzzle - Araucaria araucana

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Alternative names
Chile Pine
Description

Araucaria araucana is a distinctive evergreen tree with branches clothed in sharply pointed, triangular dark green leaves. Mature plants may bear cones on the upper branches, male and female usually on separate trees.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

Only found as planted specimens in Britain.

When to see it

All year round.

Life History

Evergreen.

UK Status

Originally native to Chile and Central America.

VC55 Status

Occasional in Leicestershire and Rutland as planted trees. It was not recorded in the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire.

  • Steve Mathers
    Terrace Hills to Belvoir (Jubilee Way)
    29 August 2016
  • Saharima Roenisch
    Knighton Park
    10 January 2017
  • Graham Calow
    Witherley Churchyard
    26 September 2015
  • Saharima Roenisch
    Abbey Park
    14 February 2017
    Monkey-puzzle at Cavendish House.
  • Steve Mathers
    Bradgate Park
    10 October 2016
    typical form
  • Steve Mathers
    Abbey Park
    04 January 2017
    young tree
  • Barbara Cooper
    Bradgate Park
    18 January 2018
    cone
  • Barbara Cooper
    Bradgate Park
    18 January 2018
    bark
  • Andy's Rutland
    Crocket Lane-Empingham village
    29 September 2018

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species data profile ?

Species profile

Common names
Monkey-puzzle
Species group:
Trees, Shrubs & Climbers
Kingdom:
Plantae
Order:
Pinales
Family:
Araucariaceae
Records on NatureSpot:
31
First record:
02/04/2015 (Semper, Alan)
Last record:
02/03/2025 (Pugh, Dylan)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.

In the Latest Records section, click on the header to sort A-Z, and again to sort Z-A. Use the header boxes to filter the list.

Latest images

Latest records

  • Saharima Roenisch
    Abbey Park
    22 December 2018
  • Saharima Roenisch
    Knighton Park
    10 January 2017
  • Steve Mathers
    Abbey Park
    04 January 2017
    leaves
  • Steve Mathers
    Bradgate Park (Newtown Linford to Bradgate House)
    05 September 2016
    bark
  • Steve Mathers
    Bradgate Park (around Bradgate House)
    10 October 2016
    detail of base of trunk
  • Saharima Roenisch
    Bradgate Country Park
    04 January 2017
  • Steve Mathers
    Bradgate Park (Newtown Linford to Hall)
    07 February 2017
    male cones, new and last year's
  • Steve Mathers
    Jubilee Way, Belvoir
    24 December 2016
    Male cones
  • Steve Mathers
    Jubilee Way, Belvoir
    24 December 2016
    Dead shoot showing pointed leaves
  • Saharima Roenisch
    Bradgate Country Park
    04 January 2017