Cook Pine

The Cook Pine (Araucaria columnaris) is the narrow beachfront conifer, growing to about 15m tall on a footprint barely 5m wide. Short branches sit in neat whorls around one straight trunk, giving a green column rather than a spreading canopy. It comes from the New Caledonian coast, so salt wind that shears other trees leaves it alone.

Why you'll love it

• Height without width. Roughly 15m by 5m, so it lifts a skyline on ground that could never hold a spreading tree.
• Front line coastal tolerance. Salt tolerant and wind tolerant by nature, which is why it lines beach esplanades along the warm coast.
• The famous lean. Cook Pines tilt toward the equator, so in Australia they lean north. That is the species, not a fault in your tree.
• Very little to do. Drought tolerant once established, and the tiered form holds itself without pruning.

Where it works best

Coastal gardens. Plant it where the wind actually hits. Exposed blocks, esplanade frontages and open coastal lawns suit it better than a sheltered courtyard.

Driveways and avenues. Space plants 5m to 6m apart in a line, so the columns read as a rhythm without the crowns touching.

Feature planting and windbreaks. A single specimen makes a landmark on a large block, and a staggered row at 4m to 5m spacing filters onshore wind.

Growing Cook Pine in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun and open air. It suits tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens and takes light frost only, so cold inland districts, the tablelands and hard frosting southern gardens will burn it. Coastal Queensland, northern New South Wales and warm coastal Western Australia are its natural fit.

Soil. Free draining ground, sandy soils included. It has no interest in wet feet. On clay, mound the planting position 200mm to 300mm and open the backfill with compost and coarse sand.

Water and feed. Water deeply twice a week through the first summer, then taper to a soak in dry spells. A complete slow release fertiliser in early spring and mid summer keeps the foliage deep green.

Pruning. None, and never cut the leading shoot. A topped Cook Pine loses the single spire that is the whole point of the tree, and it does not grow back true.

What to expect when it arrives

Four sizes are grown: 30L, 90L, 100L and 200L. The 30L is a young tree already showing the tiered habit, and it is the sensible choice if you are planting several. From 90L up you are buying real presence on day one, and the 200L reads as an established tree the week it goes in.

Foliage is soft and the tips can look dishevelled after transit, which grows out over the following season. Plant within a few days and expect four to six weeks before new growth shows. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and every order is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Read our guide to growing and maintaining conifers.
• Browse the full conifer range for hardier options.
• Compare salt tolerant plants for coastal blocks.
• See the best trees for lining a driveway.

Common questions

Why does my Cook Pine lean?

Because they all do. The species tilts toward the equator wherever it grows, which means a northward lean here. Staking a young tree is fine, but the lean returns and does no harm.

Can I grow one in Melbourne or Canberra?

Not reliably. It handles light frost only, so hard frosting southern and inland gardens burn the foliage and can kill young trees.

How close can I plant it to a fence or house?

Allow around 3m. The canopy stays about 5m wide, but at 15m tall the trunk needs room to thicken and the root plate needs space to anchor it in wind.

How fast does it grow?

Moderately, and steadily. In a warm coastal garden expect consistent height each year, with the tiered shape obvious within two or three seasons.