Bunya Pine Plant Care

Bunya Pine (Araucaria bidwillii) belongs to the Araucariaceae family within the Araucaria genus. Bunya Pine is native to Australia. Bunya Pine is also known as Monkey Puzzle Tree.

Bunya Pine displays a tall, conical tree growth habit, reaching up to 100 ft tall with a spread of approximately 30 ft. Bunya Pine produces rarely flowers, small cones.

Leaf size: approximately 6 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Bunya Pine every 7–14 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established trees mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Bunya Pine thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Araucaria bidwillii tolerates temperatures of 50–80°F. Bunya Pine prefers humidity levels of 50–70%. A pebble tray or humidifier helps maintain adequate moisture around the plant.

Well-draining, acidic soil with high organic matter content. Good drainage is essential for Bunya Pine to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Bunya Pine every 8 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established trees in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and well-draining, acidic soil with high organic matter content. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Bunya Pine is suited to USDA Zone 12a.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped trees in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Bunya Pine can spread to about 30 ft (9.1 m) and reach about 100 ft (30 m) tall. Space plants about 30 ft (9.1 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the tree spacing calculator.

Prune Bunya Pine while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the tree in one year.

Bunya Pine is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 12). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.

Bunya Pine can be propagated through seeds, cuttings. Similar propagation techniques also apply to norfolk island pine plant care, which shares the same genus.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

Bunya Pine is susceptible to aphids, scale insects. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Bunya Pine grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. Bunya Pine is native to Australia. In cooler regions, grow Bunya Pine as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.