We visited New Zealand earlier this year. The Norfolk Island Pine is well
established as an ornamemental tree/shrub in North Island, and I saw one
growing as far south as Te Anau in South Island.
We live in South Devon with a south facing garden, slope 1 in 6 to 1 in 10.
Jen and I were very taken by the appearance of this tree-symetric branches
like cut paper patterns.
Best information suggests that it is a no/no in the UK and that it is rarely
grown in the US.
I know that on Norfolk Island (29deg.S 50ins of rain a year) it can grow to
200ft high, 10ft diameter. Has anyone experience of it as a house or patio
plan, or even outdoors in the UK?
Regards
David T

in article , at
wrote on 20/4/03 11:17 am:

We visited New Zealand earlier this year. The Norfolk Island Pine is well
established as an ornamemental tree/shrub in North Island, and I saw one
growing as far south as Te Anau in South Island.
We live in South Devon with a south facing garden, slope 1 in 6 to 1 in 10.
Jen and I were very taken by the appearance of this tree-symetric branches
like cut paper patterns.
Best information suggests that it is a no/no in the UK and that it is rarely
grown in the US.
I know that on Norfolk Island (29deg.S 50ins of rain a year) it can grow to
200ft high, 10ft diameter. Has anyone experience of it as a house or patio
plan, or even outdoors in the UK?

Ray thinks you'd be *very* lucky to have it survive. We're also in S.
Devon, between Totnes and Ashburton and being close to the moor can get some
sharp frosts. But he's doubtful that even near the sea, you would be lucky
in the long-term. I know someone living in Philadelphia who treats her as a
house plant - their summers are hot, their winters harsh! When she was
having trouble with hers looking a bit sick, we discovered that she was not
only over-watering it, she was 'nurturing' it by standing it near the hot
air vent.....
--

Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk

The Scilly Isles are the only place in the UK that it survives. It is sold
as a house plant in this country.

in article , Peter Crosland at
wrote on 20/4/03 2:51 pm:

The Scilly Isles are the only place in the UK that it survives. It is sold
as a house plant in this country.


We've seen them in the Abbey Gardens in Tresco and in Hawaii! I don't recall
seeing them in California but I'll ask American friends.
--

Sacha

We've seen them in the Abbey Gardens in Tresco and in Hawaii! I don't
recall
seeing them in California but I'll ask American friends.

Although they are a native of Norfolk Island they are widely planted in
places such a California and parts of Australasia.

In article , "Peter Crosland" wrote:

We've seen them in the Abbey Gardens in Tresco and in Hawaii! I don't
recall
seeing them in California but I'll ask American friends.

Although they are a native of Norfolk Island they are widely planted in
places such a California and parts of Australasia.

The only place I've seen them in California is in San Diego - southern
California, and even there, only within maybe 5-10 miles of the ocean.

cheers,

Marj

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wrote in message ...
We visited New Zealand earlier this year. The Norfolk Island Pine is well
established as an ornamemental tree/shrub in North Island, and I saw one
growing as far south as Te Anau in South Island.
We live in South Devon with a south facing garden, slope 1 in 6 to 1 in
10.
Jen and I were very taken by the appearance of this tree-symetric branches
like cut paper patterns.
Best information suggests that it is a no/no in the UK and that it is
rarely
grown in the US.
I know that on Norfolk Island (29deg.S 50ins of rain a year) it can grow
to
200ft high, 10ft diameter. Has anyone experience of it as a house or patio
plan, or even outdoors in the UK?
Regards
David T



Saw one today growing just inside the entrance to the Glasshouse at RHS
Wisley. It is about 8ft tall.

Natalie

Thanks for the information Natalie. After posting I had done some
researching of conditions with respect to our garden. We're resolved to give
it a go on a sheltered southerly facing slope, with maybe close protection
in winter.
A significant issue is the cost when there is a significant risk of losing
the tree
Regards
David T

Saw one today growing just inside the entrance to the Glasshouse at RHS
Wisley. It is about 8ft tall.

Natalie

Living in the north of New Zealand I am familiar with the Norfolk Pine(Agathis heterophylla). It is closely related to the NZ Kauri Agathis australis.
There's a light hearted debate going on in New Zealand at the moment that The Norfolk island Pine should be treated as a native here in New Zealand as Norfolk island's flora is closer to NZ than Australia. Norfolk Island also has Phormium or NZ Flax and a few Coprosmas and Pittosporum.
Norfolk Pine is well established as an ornamental tree particularly next to the Beach. It grows well in Wellington and they have become part of the Wellington skyscape along Oriental Parade.
Children love to climb them as the regular branching makes for easy climbing. Many a kiwikid has gone far too high, much to the concern of their parents!
I would think that as Cordyline australis (Cabbage Tree) grows well in Southern Britain then Norfolk Pine would like wise do well, however in a more sandy,gravel, coastal spot.
check out my website
www.bushmansfriend.co.nz

bushman writes

Thanks for the information Natalie. After posting I had done some
researching of conditions with respect to our garden. We're resolved
to
give
it a go on a sheltered southerly facing slope, with maybe close
protection
in winter.
A significant issue is the cost when there is a significant risk of
losing
the tree
Regards
David T

Saw one today growing just inside the entrance to the Glasshouse at
RHS
Wisley. It is about 8ft tall.

Natalie



Living in the north of New Zealand I am familiar with the Norfolk
Pine(Agathis heterophylla). It is closely related to the NZ Kauri
Agathis australis.
There's a light hearted debate going on in New Zealand at the moment
that The Norfolk island Pine should be treated as a native here in New
Zealand as Norfolk island's flora is closer to NZ than Australia.
Norfolk Island also has Phormium or NZ Flax and a few Coprosmas and
Pittosporum.
Norfolk Pine is well established as an ornamental tree particularly
next to the Beach. It grows well in Wellington and they have become
part of the Wellington skyscape along Oriental Parade.
Children love to climb them as the regular branching makes for easy
climbing. Many a kiwikid has gone far too high, much to the concern of
their parents!
I would think that as Cordyline australis (Cabbage Tree) grows well in
Southern Britain then Norfolk Pine would like wise do well, however in
a more sandy,gravel, coastal spot.
check out my website
www.bushmansfriend.co.nz


Can someone update me n the taxonomy please? I know the Norfolk Island
Pine as Araucaria heterophylla. So is Agathis the new designation, an
older one, or something different altogether?

--
Kay

It is Araucaria heterophylla, and thus only a second cousin to the Kauri (Agathis australis), which is in another group in the Araucariaceae.

He also has it wrong in thinking that because I can grow a Cordyline in many places in Britain we can also grow Norfolk Island Pine here. We can't, outside the Scillies.

On Tue, 23 May 2006 17:15:39 +0100, Janet Baraclough
wrote:

The message
from bushman contains these words:

I would think that as Cordyline australis (Cabbage Tree) grows well in
Southern Britain then Norfolk Pine would like wise do well, however in
a more sandy,gravel, coastal spot.

Cordyline does well as an open garden plant much further north, all
up the west coast of Scotland. Not least because given a mild winter
climate (just a few degrees of frost), it's very tolerant of high wind
and high rainfall. I can easily grow many NZ plants outside here but not
Norfolk Pine.

Norfolk Pine hasn't got nearly such a wide range as an outdoor survivor
in the UK.

Janet. (Isle of Arran, west coast of Scotland).

Agreed. IIRC they have a few on Tresco, and possibly in one or two of
the very sheltered NT gardens in west Cornwall (Glendurgan?), but I
wouldn't even consider it in my garden also in west Cornwall.


--
Chris

E-mail: christopher[dot]hogg[at]virgin[dot]net