Monkey puzzle trees became a favorite of garden designers in the Victorian period. According to one story about the origin of the tree's name, the proud owner of a young specimen was showing it to friends, when one of them remarked that even a monkey would puzzle on how to climb it.. The monkey puzzle tree is an evergreen ornamental and timber conifer of the family Araucariaceae. The tree is native to the Andes Mountains of South America and is an endangered species in its native habitat. Learn more about the monkey puzzle tree, including its physical characteristics and life span.
A. araucana or Monkey Puzzle Tree is the hardiest of these species. It is a large, stately evergreen conifer native to the volcanic hills of the Andes mountains in southern Chile and western Argentina. It is the national tree of Chile and thrives in maritime areas with mild, cool, climates.. Araucaria araucana, commonly called the pewen, monkey-puzzle, [3] pehuen or piñonero, is an evergreen tree belonging to the family Araucariaceae and growing to a height of 30-40 m (98-131 ft) and a trunk diameter of 1-1.5 m (3.3-4.9 ft). Native to central and southern Chile and western Argentina, it is the hardiest species in the conifer genus Araucaria. [4] Because of the prevalence.