Araucaria cunninghamii (Hoop Pine)

Hoop Pine (Araucaria cunninghamii) is the tall, narrow native conifer that gives an Australian skyline its shape. In a garden setting it reaches about 15m tall and 6m wide, holding a straight trunk and a distinctive tufted crown well clear of everything around it. This listing is ex ground stock at 12m to 14m, a mature specimen lifted from the field for gardens and projects that need scale from the first day.

Why you'll love it

• Height without width. At roughly 15m tall and 6m across it delivers serious vertical presence on a footprint most large trees could not manage.
• An Australian native with real character. The whorled branching and tufted crown are unmistakable, and it belongs in eastern Australian landscapes.
• Built for exposure. Wind tolerant, salt tolerant and drought tolerant once established, so it holds up on ridgelines, coastal blocks and open paddocks.
• Instant maturity. Ex ground trees at this size skip twenty years of growing, which is the whole reason to buy one.

Where it works best

Feature planting. A single hoop pine anchors a large garden, a rural entry or a commercial forecourt. Give it open ground where the silhouette can be read from a distance.

Windbreaks and tall screening. Plant 4m apart for a tall screen or shelter row. That spacing lets each crown develop while the row filters wind rather than forming a solid wall that turbulence builds behind.

Driveways and avenues. On a long rural drive, a matched row at 4m to 6m spacing creates a formal avenue that keeps its shape for decades without pruning.

Growing hoop pine in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun and open ground. This is a tree for tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens, and it takes light frost only, so hard frosting inland districts and cold southern gardens are not suitable. Coastal and exposed sites are well within its range.

Soil. Deep, free draining soil gives the best result, though it copes with a range of types once established. Avoid ground that stays wet, and dig a planting pit wide rather than deep so the roots move out sideways.

Water and feed. A tree of this size needs consistent deep watering for its first two years while the root system rebuilds, which matters far more than fertiliser. After that it is drought tolerant.

Pruning and support. It forms its own shape and needs no formative pruning, so remove dead lower branches only. Staking or guying is essential at this size and should stay in place until the root plate has anchored, generally two full growing seasons.

What to expect when it arrives

This is field grown ex ground stock supplied at 12m to 14m, lifted to order rather than held in a pot. Trees of this scale are supplied on request and delivery is arranged individually, because a crane or hiab and site access for heavy vehicles are usually required. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and we confirm the freight and handling arrangement before anything is dispatched.

Expect the tree to sit still for its first season while it replaces the roots lost in lifting, with visible new growth from the second year. Trees are delivered Australia wide, with a minimum order of $300 before delivery, and every tree carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the full ex ground tree range
• A closer look at conifers
• Advanced trees for immediate impact
• Plants that suit a windbreak

Common questions

Does it really grow to 60m?

Only in rainforest, where competition for light drives it up. In an open garden or paddock expect around 15m tall and 6m wide, which is the figure worth planning your site around.

How much space does it need?

Allow at least 6m of width and keep it well clear of buildings, powerlines and services. It is narrow for its height, but it is still a large, long lived tree.

What is involved in planting a tree this size?

Machinery access, a prepared pit and a proper guying system. Most buyers use a landscaper or arborist for placement.