Araucaria bidwillii

RHS Plant Profile

bunya-bunya pine

RHS

Other common names

bunya bunya, bunya pine

Conifers Conservatory Greenhouse Trees

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A very large coniferous tree, to 45m tall, with whorled branches. Its habit is conical when young, eventually becoming rounded and losing the lower branches. The flattened, glossy, spine-tipped leaves are arranged spirally when young, overlapping when older. It produces massive cones, up to 30cm long, green ripening to brown, with edible nuts

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

Higher than 12 metres

Max Spread

wider than 8 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: more than 50 years
Max Spread: wider than 8 metres
Max Height: Higher than 12 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: West–facing or East–facing or South–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H1C

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Araucariaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Araucaria are evergreen trees from the Southern Hemisphere, with whorled branches bearing spirally arranged leaves that may be needle-like, triangular or scale-like, and small male, and large female cones, usually on separate trees
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: NE Australia

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow as a containerised tree under glass in areas liable to temperatures below 5°C. The plant may be placed outside in a sheltered, sunny position during the summer In containers, use a well-drained, loam-based potting compost with extra grit. Water freely during the growing season, spring to early autumn,and keep the compost just moist during the winter. Apply a balanced fertiliser every two weeks during the growing season

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in seedbed as soon as ripe; take semi-ripe cuttings of vertical shoot tips in midsummer and root in a cold frame, cuttings of horizontal side branches will not form an upright tree

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Patio and container plants
Sub-tropical
Architectural

Pruning

Pruning group 1; little or no pruning is required, as this can permanently spoil the shape of the tree

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus