Norfolk Island Pine, Star Pine (Araucaria heterophylla)

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Kell San Leandro, CA(Zone 9b) Nov 25, 2009

Norfolk Island Pine, Star Pine
Araucaria heterophylla

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palmbob Acton, CA(Zone 8b) May 29, 2012

Araucaria columnaris, not heterophylla

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Kell San Leandro, CA(Zone 9b) May 29, 2012

I figured it was too straight to be Araucaria columnaris. Are you basing your opinion on the branches being so close together? I remember where this one is. I can go look at the bark. Do you feel the bark is a good indicator?

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palmbob Acton, CA(Zone 8b) May 29, 2012

I dont' really understand the bark differences, but there are supposed to be some... yes I am judging based on the relatively small size of the tree and the very close proximity of the branches, not to mention the very narrow, upright silhouette (as opposed to a more distinctly triangular silhouette of A heterophylla). The latter is an enormous tree, relative to A colmunaris and dwarfs many Araucarias in terms of overall height, except maybe the Bunya Bunya tree. I did not have a real appreciation of the enormous size of this tree until I finally saw some in person... wow! Spectacular tree and I think a much more attractive one, though a very well grown A columnaris can look nice, too (though most don't look all that great). for every A heterophylla you actually come across, you will hundreds, if not thousands, of A columnaris. THis is a sad mistake propagated by the nursery industry who just latched onto the wrong name, sort of the way they did with Aloe harlana for Aloe hemmingii and Kalanchoe thyrsiflora for K luciae... not sure how this really happens, but once it gets out of hand, it's hard to do much about it.

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BayAreaTropics Hayward, CA Sep 23, 2012

Yes,columnaris. There are some true NIP in the bay area's older neighborhoods...all larger than columnaris too. The open spreading canopy is the tip off.

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