WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST?
A couple of weeks ago I mentioned I was away in Florida. I forgot to mention this peculiar tree I’ve never seen before that caught my eye. From afar, it kind of looks fake, but it is certainly real. Although it resembles a spruce tree, it isn’t related. It is the Norfolk Island Pine (Araucaria heterophylla). The reason I’ve never seen it before is that it cannot tolerate temperatures below 35 degrees and lives in hardiness zones 10-11. Native to the Pacific, it is widely planted in Florida as an ornamental. It is also apparently used as a living Christmas tree if grown indoors or kept small. Outdoors it can get pretty tall, or over 100 feet. In any case, this certainly is one attractive tree.
May the Forest Be with You,
Ryan Trapani
Director of Forest Services
Catskill Forest Association