Norfolk Island Pine

Araucaria heterophylla

Araucaria heterophylla (synonym A. excelsa) is a distinctive conifer, a member of the ancient and now disjointly distributed family Araucariaceae. As its vernacular name Norfolk Island Pine implies, the tree is endemic to Norfolk Island, a small island in the South pacific Ocean.

Despite its name however, it is not a pine. The genus Araucaria occurs across the South Pacific, especially concentrated in New Caledonia (about 700 km due north of Norfolk Island) where 13 closely related and similar-appearing species are found.

Its distinctive appearance, with widely spaced branches and a symmetrical, triangular outline, has made it a popular cultivated species, either as a single tree or in avenues. When the tree reaches maturity, the shape may become less symmetrical. As well as in its native Norfolk Island, it is widely planted in Australia. New Zealand, Florida, Hawaii, South Africa and southern California.

It grows well in deep sand, as long as it receives reliable water when young. This, and its tolerance of salt and wind, makes it ideal for coastal situations.

Young trees are often grown as houseplants in areas where the winters are too cold for them to grow outside (they will not, for example, survive outdoors in most of the USA and Europe, but are sometimes used as Christmas trees there, as elsewhere). Some people may experience a strong allergic reaction if they touch the leaves. The timber is good for woodturning, and is extensively used by Hawaiian craftspeople. However, British explorer James Cook unsuccessfully used these trees as ship masts when exploring Norfolk Island. Large numbers of Norfolk Island Pines are produced in South Florida for the houseplant industry. The bulk of these are shipped to grocery stores, discount retailers and garden centers during November. Many of these are sprayed with a light coating of green paint prior to sale to increase their eye appeal. In the late 1950's a trial shipment of Norfolk Pine logs was sent to Sydney plywood manufacturers in the hope of developing a timber export industry for the Island.  Although the plywood companies reported excellent results the industry was deemed not deemed by the Norfolk Island Advisory Council who decided to reserve local timber production for use on the Island.