Monkey Tail Tree 2 of 2

Another name for these trees is "chilean pine" or "monkey puzzle tree" because a monkey is supposed to be puzzled, I guess. But the roofer called it a "roofer puzzle tree" I think because it is sharp and spikey and hurt him.

The starbucks had a game where whoever saw a monkey tail tree first would pinch her sister. Fun.

I just did a search and found out that we are in the vast minority by calling this a "monkey tail tree": like, 10 hits, versus "monkey puzzle tree": like, 5,000 hits. "Roofer puzzle tree": 0. (That's because I haven't posted this comment yet.)

I happen to like the name 'Monkey Tail Tree'- 'Monkey puzzle tree' somehow sounds perjorative and Aracauria araucana...just plain pretentious.

i was in the state of washington last year and spotted lots of monkey tail trees.i want to plant a few here in ca.. where can i get them?who supplies them for transplant?

Hey, so apparently you can buy these online:

Forestfarm.com Monkey Puzzle Tree order

I'm asking Paul for more information about the origin of all the monkey-* trees in the Portland area. Has something to do with the World's Fair I think.

how do you get the monkey tails trees to grow. do they need special soil or is there a special fertilizer for them

I don't know if anything special is needed to grow them (although of course I didn't plant and nurture ours -- it came with the house and is pretty big already). We certainly haven't ever fertilized it. FWIW, it does seem to suck all the water out of the soil around it (grass and plants don't want to grow near its base, and the soil there is dusty).

;Chris

monkey trees are my favorite kind of trees first of all because i love monkeys , second of all, they look so cool!!

i like monkeys trees a lot. first of all i love monkeys! Second of all monkey trees look so so so so cool!

this august we were in ireland and we saw this tree not knowing the name we just called it monkey tail tree just for fun it was fun to find this site

Its called a monkey puzzle tree because monkeys find it difficult to climb due to it being asymmetrical. 300 year one in my garden - Ireland

I first saw the monkey trail tree in Germany and fell in love at first sight. We are currntly building a home in southern Arizona and want to know if these trees will do well in that region. I hope the answer is yes as I really love these trees. They are so unique and original and would fit perfectly into the Arizona landscape. Thanx

Hi Elania,

It seems that it should work! Check out this page:

http://www.smithandhawken.com/html/resource/rsc_guru_redux/2003/rsc_guru0113.jhtml

Scroll down to the bit labeled Monkey Tail Tree a Puzzle. This person suggests that the trees will be okay in Zones 4-9. I believe Arizona contains Zones 5-10 (see http://www.growit.com/bin/USDAZoneMaps.exe?MyState=AZ) so I think you're in luck!

;Chris Higgins

ermmmm the monkey tree luks rather kwl!! i want one to make my D and T project out of, would luk rather gd eh!? well luff yaz xxxxxxxxxxxx

I have recently moved a Monkey Tree from a garden as the house is being sold and wanted to know if there was anything I should feed it or any tips on how to look after it to make sure it survives?

Any information would be great..!

Sarah

I live in St. Louis, Missouri and would love to purchase a monkey tail tree. Saw it on vacation to Ireland and it's awesome. Would it grow here and if so, where do I find it to purchase?

Thank you, Karen

I moved and took a 6 foot monkey tree with me.

I trimmed off about 2/3 of the lower branches. I kept the top 4 and the tip intact.

It as hell. A long tap root. Ireally butchered it. The root system looked like about as long as my fingers.

I put it into a 5 gallon planting tub with soil. I kept it in the shade, well-watered, with root growing compound and fertilizer. I kept it in there for a few months until the beginning of the coolest time of year. Then I transplanted it into where it is now.

2 years later, it is flourishing and feature point in our townhouse complex.

We call it the 'pussy-cat tree' as it seems to have nine lives.

we're starting seeds. hope we grow something!

I have a five foot monkey tail tree with a second leed coming through. Just wondering if I trimmed it would my tree be o.k.