The Norfolk Island pine likes a cool climate. The species is a native of Norfolk Island, north of New Zealand in the pacific Ocean. There it can grow to a height of more than 50m (160ft). The young plants that are kept in the house grow slowly. If looked after well they add a layer of side branches each year, complete with fresh green needles which hardly prick at all.
Put the Norfolk Island pine in as light a place as possible, but out of the sun. Even in a rather dark position the plant will survive for a remarkably long time, although it will then grow even more slowly. Keep the plant dryish and only pot-on when absolutely necessary because Araucaria hates it. After potting on in humus-rich soil (preferably leaf mould and sand), do not feed for at least two months. Feed only sparingly after that. Mist or spray the plant regularly,, or put it outside in the rain, but only when it is about 7°C (45°F) or more. The Norfolk Island pine will get through the winter best at 7°C (45°F) or more, but should not be in a heated room where the air would be so dry that the lower branches would turn yellow and drop off. This is a natural process but once branches have dropped off they will never grow again and the lower part of the plant eventually becomes bare. In warm, dry air this happens more quickly.
To recuperate, the plant, still in its pot, may be dug in outside in a shady spot.
Put the Norfolk Island pine in as light a place as possible, but out of the sun. Even in a rather dark position the plant will survive for a remarkably long time, although it will then grow even more slowly. Keep the plant dryish and only pot-on when absolutely necessary because Araucaria hates it. After potting on in humus-rich soil (preferably leaf mould and sand), do not feed for at least two months. Feed only sparingly after that. Mist or spray the plant regularly,, or put it outside in the rain, but only when it is about 7°C (45°F) or more. The Norfolk Island pine will get through the winter best at 7°C (45°F) or more, but should not be in a heated room where the air would be so dry that the lower branches would turn yellow and drop off. This is a natural process but once branches have dropped off they will never grow again and the lower part of the plant eventually becomes bare. In warm, dry air this happens more quickly.
To recuperate, the plant, still in its pot, may be dug in outside in a shady spot.
The leaves are awl-shaped, 1-1.5 cm long, about 1 mm thick at the base on young trees, and incurved, 5–10 mm long and variably 2–4 mm broad on older trees. The thickest, scale-like leaves on coning branches are in the upper crown. The cones are squat globose, 10–12 cm long and 12–14 cm diameter, and take about 18 months to mature. They disintegrate at maturity to release the nut-like edible seeds.
The scientific name heterophylla ("different leaves") derives from the variation in the leaves between young and adult plants.
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