Friends of Belfast Botanic gardens

Tree of the month series - this series of short articles about trees in the Belfast Botanic Gardens is compiled by members of the Friends group and Gardens staff. The series will gradually build up to a comprehensive archive of information about the trees in Belfast Botanic gardens. Each article will illustrate the tree in Belfast together with information from a range of sources elsewhere. Click here for the rest of the trees

Tree of the Month, February 2008

Norfolk Island pine - Araucaria heterophylla

by Jonathan Pilcher

This month we are staying in the relative warmth of the palm house to look at a member of the monkey puzzle family. The familiar monkey puzzle, Araucara araucana, is hardy and has thrived in Northern Ireland since introduced shortly after1844. It is now an icon of the Victorian age that is still planted in totally unsuitable front gardens where it can grow to over 30m high! The Norfolk Island pine is much less well known as it is frost tender surviving out of doors only on Tresco in the British Isles. It is one of the most striking and elegant trees when fully grown with an amazing symmetry. It is native to one Island north of New Zealand but is cultivated in many warm countries round the world.The two trees in the palm house are only a few years old, but are already quite striking.

Photos taken in 2008 in Belfast Botanic Gardens. Copyright Jon Pilcher