Araucaria heterophylla seeds
LATIN NAME: ARAUCARIA HETEROPHYLLA
COMMON NAME: Norfolk Island Pine, Star Pine
The Norfolk Island pine is one of the most elegant and instantly recognisable conifers in the world, its straight, upright trunk and whorls of horizontally spreading branches creating a perfect, symmetrical, candelabra outline that has made it a favourite as a living Christmas tree and a houseplant. The branches are clothed in soft, bright green, needle-like leaves arranged in flattened, fern-like sprays, and the young tree has a regular, layered form that is almost geometric. In its native habitat it grows into a tall, stately tree with a broad, open crown, but in cultivation it is usually kept smaller. Native to Norfolk Island, a tiny speck in the South Pacific between Australia and New Zealand, it is a tropical and subtropical tree that thrives in mild, moist, frost-free climates, and it has been planted along coasts and in gardens across the warm temperate world. It tolerates coastal winds and salt spray, making it ideal for seaside planting.
Scientific Research & Plant Biotechnology
The Norfolk Island pine has a genuine record in botanical, horticultural and ecological research. As a member of the ancient Araucariaceae family, a group of conifers that was once far more widespread across the globe, it is of great interest to botanists studying conifer evolution and biogeography, and the fossil record of the family extends back to the age of the dinosaurs. Horticulturists study its tolerance of coastal conditions, its use as an indoor tree and its responses to light, humidity and pot culture, since it is one of the most widely grown indoor conifers in the world. Researchers also examine its pest and disease problems, its growth rates and its potential for plantation forestry in mild regions. Ecologists study its role on Norfolk Island, where it is a dominant and culturally significant tree. For a conifer of such perfect symmetry, the Norfolk Island pine has a steady and practical body of research.
Ecological & Economic Value & Wide Applications
Ecologically, the Norfolk Island pine is a valuable tree of the coast. Its tall crown gives shelter and nesting sites for seabirds, its dense foliage provides cover for insects and birds, and it is one of the few tall trees that thrive in windy, salty coastal conditions. On Norfolk Island itself, it is an iconic and protected species. Economically, it is one of the most widely planted ornamental conifers in mild, coastal regions, used in gardens, parks, avenues and coastal plantings, and it is a hugely popular houseplant and living Christmas tree in cooler climates, with a solid place in the nursery trade. The timber is used locally for construction and crafts. For a grower, it is a dependable, long-lived ornamental for a frost-free garden or a bright indoor space, and for a gardener it brings a touch of the South Pacific and a perfect, elegant symmetry. The large seeds germinate in warm, moist conditions on the surface.
To grow the Norfolk Island Pine from seed, to start the Norfolk Island pine, sow the large seeds on the surface of moist, free-draining compost in a warm, well-lit position and keep them humid and lightly watered.
sow the large seeds on the surface of moist, free-draining compost in a warm, well-lit position, and keep the young pines in a warm, well-lit position.
LATIN NAME: Araucaria heterophylla
COMMON NAME: Norfolk Island Pine, Star Pine
The Norfolk Island pine is one of the most elegant and distinctive of all conifers, and its neat, symmetrical shape is recognised around the world. It grows with a straight, upright trunk and whorls of branches that spread out evenly in layers, giving the young tree a perfect, regular, candelabra outline. The branches are clothed in soft, bright green leaves that lie in flattened, fern-like sprays, and in time the tree develops a tall, open crown. It grows slowly and gracefully, and it makes a beautiful living Christmas tree when small, a handsome houseplant when young, and a stately, windswept tree when it reaches the coast.
The Norfolk Island pine belongs to the ancient araucaria family, Araucariaceae, and it is native to Norfolk Island, a small island in the Pacific Ocean between Australia and New Zealand. It is a tropical and subtropical tree that thrives in mild, moist, frost-free climates, and it has been planted along coasts and in gardens across the warm temperate world.
Positive & Encouraging Seed Germination Guide
Growing a Norfolk Island pine from seed is a slow but very rewarding project. The large seeds sit inside the heavy, woody cones, and they germinate in warm, moist conditions. Sow them in pots of free-draining compost, barely covering them, and keep them warm, humid and lightly shaded. Germination can take several weeks and is often uneven, so be patient and keep the pots gently moist and warm. Pot the young trees on as they grow, giving them bright, indirect light and protecting them from frost and harsh sun. They grow slowly but steadily, and a Norfolk Island pine you have raised from seed will become a beautiful, symmetrical tree that will grace a room, a conservatory or a mild coastal garden for many years.
Scientific Research & Plant Biotechnology
The Norfolk Island pine has a genuine place in both botanical and horticultural research. As a member of the ancient araucaria family, it is of interest to botanists studying the evolution and distribution of conifers, a group that was once far more widespread. In horticulture, it is one of the most important ornamental conifers for mild climates, studied for its tolerance of coastal winds and salt, which makes it valuable for planting by the sea, and for its use as an indoor tree and a living Christmas tree in cooler regions. Researchers have also studied its cultivation, its pest problems and its responses to indoor conditions. For a tree of such perfect symmetry, the Norfolk Island pine has a steady and practical record of research.
Ecological & Economic Value & Wide Applications
Ecologically, the Norfolk Island pine is a valuable tree of the coast. Its tall crown gives shelter and nesting sites for seabirds, its dense foliage provides cover for insects and birds, and it is one of the few tall trees that thrive in windy, salty coastal conditions.
Its economic value is considerable. It is one of the most widely planted ornamental conifers in mild, coastal regions, used in gardens, parks, avenues and coastal plantings, and it is a popular houseplant and living Christmas tree in cooler climates, with a solid place in the nursery trade. For a grower, the Norfolk Island pine is a dependable, long-lived ornamental, and for a gardener it brings a touch of the South Pacific and a perfect, elegant symmetry to any collection.
Uses: gardening, landscape. Timber .Bonsai Norfolk pine