Pehuén (monkey puzzle)

Araucaria araucana

A living fossil whose big cones hold piñones, the staple of the Pehuenche. Slow; needs male and female trees.

Type: canopy tree · nut trees
Hardiness: zones 7 to 10
Light: full sun
Size: about 80 ft tall, 25 ft wide
Harvest: March to May
From: Andes of Chile and Argentina
Here: Hardy in the Lake Erie shore climate (zone 6b to 7a), so it can live outdoors in the ground.

Good for: food, wildlife.

Native to: Southern Cone & Patagonia. Hardy in zones 7 to 10.

The story

For the Pehuenche, 'the people of the pehuén', this tree is the centre of life: the autumn harvest of piñones is still gathered by families on the volcanic slopes of the southern Andes. The species is older than the Andes themselves and is now endangered in the wild.

Planting

Full sun, deep well-drained soil and a cool, moist climate. Give it a great deal of room, away from paths.

Growing

Very slow for its first years. It needs no pruning; lower branches drop on their own.

Harvest and use

Female trees bear after 30 or 40 years. The big cones shatter in autumn; boil or roast the seeds like chestnuts.

What to watch for

You need a male and a female tree. The leaves are sharp and the falling cones are heavy.

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General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home