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Old 15-01-2007, 05:59 AM posted to rec.gardens
sling blade sling blade is offline
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Default Life Span of a Norfolk Pine


Paulo da Costa wrote:
Cearbhaill wrote:
"sling blade" wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi,

Can someone please let me know the average life span of a Norfolk
Pine grown outdoors?

Longer than you'll ever live to see.
I found mention of 1000 year old NIP's in Chile, but most sites list
150 years.


Not Chile surely, as Norfolk Island Pines comes from N. I. near
Australia. Araucaria araucana comes from Chile, and Araucaria
angustifolia from southern Brazil.

That being said, it depends on the climate where you live. N. I. Pines
used to be popular in Rio de Janeiro when I was growing up, but they
last only a few decades there (I've heard of several cases where the
roots gave way and the tree went on to lean against a wall). They can
also be seen growing outdoors in the San Francisco Bay area, where I
live now. On the coast, you can see very large ones, they have obviously
been there more than a few decades (but I doubt that anybody has
experience growing them for much longer than 150 years outside of
Norfolk Island, certainly not in California).

Paulo


I live in New Zealand and the temps are moderate and no chance of a
frost where I live (Auckland). Looks like I can rely on the tree just
out of my front door living a long time.

I just hope the roots don't get too big.

Thanks for all of the great answers!

Cheers