Araucaria Cunninghamii, Hoop Pine - 0.5 kg Seeds

Hoop pine (Araucaria cunninghamii) is a tall, striking evergreen conifer that can reach 30-45 m, forming a straight columnar trunk topped by a distinctive tufted, dome-shaped crown of branches clothed in small, sharp, scale-like needles. The bark peels in characteristic horizontal hoops, giving the tree its common name. Native to the rainforests of eastern Australia and New Guinea, it is grown in India as an ornamental and plantation conifer in the cooler hills and high-rainfall areas such as the Nilgiris, the north-east and parts of the Western Ghats.

It is valued for its fine, pale, even-grained softwood, used for plywood, joinery, furniture and general construction, and is an important plantation timber. As an ornamental it is prized for its symmetrical architectural form, planted in large gardens, parks and avenues, and young trees are sometimes used as living Christmas trees.

• Family: Araucariaceae
• Native region: Eastern Australia and New Guinea
• Mature height: 30-45 m
• Growth rate: Moderate to fast

Sowing the seed: the seeds are large, short-lived and need no scarification, so sow them fresh for best results. A soak in water for about 12-24 hours helps; sow them on their side roughly 1-2 cm deep in a deep, well-drained, sandy nursery mix and keep moist and lightly shaded. Germination takes about 21-30 days; transplant the seedlings carefully once they are well rooted, protecting the long taproot.