- Wildlife
- Trees and shrubs
- Monkey-puzzle
Philip Precey
About
The Monkey-puzzle is a large, evergreen tree, which has been widely planted in parks and gardens. It was introduced into the UK from Chile in the 18th century by a botanist who managed to grow the seedlings on his ship and then donated them to Kew. By Victorian times, it had become a popular tree to plant in gardens and even in plantations.
How to identify
Monkey-puzzle trees are unmistakeable: they are pyramidal in shape, with horizontal branches jutting out from the trunk in tiers; the branches are covered in stiff, dark green spines which are actually leaves.
Where to find it
Widespread.
Habitats
When to find it
- January
- February
- March
- April
- May
- June
- July
- August
- September
- October
- November
- December
How can people help
Monkey-puzzle trees rarely self-seed in this country, so they are not a threat to native species. However, the planting of them in gardens and parks may well prove to be valuable in the future as their natural forest habitat is increasingly threatened by commercial plantations and felling and burning for agriculture. The Monkey-puzzle is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of endangered species.