Hi all, we are looking for monkey puzzle and northern peach seed. Any suggestions? Thanks.
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I know it’s a little late to answer but I did buy some seeds just for fun. Not sure we’re to plant them yet, probably in some random parks.
I tried EFN:
https://store.experimentalfarmnetwork.org/products/monkey-puzzle-tree
And also Tomorrow Seeds (they list on eBay sometimes, That’s where I got mine)
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dont plant nonnatives in parks lol. Only where you can keep an eye on them always
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hah i kinda assumed it was a native since a few arboreteums growing them. My bad. I can at least put them across the street on side of the road just to see if they survive (doubtful, as my friend is in a lower zone they can support). or just sell them to folks.
I don’t think a slow growing tree that takes 30 years to even begin producing seed is much of an invasive risk. It doesn’t sucker, the seeds are large and not wind or birds dispersed, the trees are very conspicuous and easy to spot, a single cut will kill them making mechanical control very easy, and seedlings are very slow growing and very picky about soil and climate.
Basically zero invasive risk, but a lot to respect about a tree that gets 120 ft tall, had been around for a hundred million years, produces excellent nuts, and lives for a 1,000 years.
They were native to North America back in the day if that counts. The petrified forest for example is mostly Araucaria.
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Araucaria grows like a weed here in Portland, in less than 10 years it will be out-of-bounds and a danger on city lots. You would need an army of more than 12 mnkeys to fend off complaints if planting at random.
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I wish mine were growing as rampantly as you suggest Larry. I have 3 and have been pleased with the growth the last couple years since I started fertilizing them some.
…and you have plenty of space for them on your acreage.
They are a cool plant from a distance, but I cringe whenever nearing one on a sidewalk, especially during cone fall.
One at 37th & Schller near here was into the lower utility lines within 5 years and was removed.
There is one on the Reed College campus, planted well away from well-trod areas, that grows multiple feet per year.
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One of my neighbors has one but its all brown after this winter. I imagine its dead rip
I thought Monkey Puzzle grows extremely slow. maxing out at 120/130ft. a couple feet a year makes it sound like it’ll grow relatively quickly to that max size (and stay there for 1000 years).
is it another species of Araucaria thats becoming weed-like in Portland?
Growth rate of trees of many species is faster when young. Trees I mentioned here are definitely monkey puzzle. I do not see any evidence of seedlings from nearby mature trees.
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They’ve been planted in the pacific northwest for more than 100 years. They grow well but I have never seen one escape into the wild. My grandpa’s male tree made a cone and some seeds a few years ago which was cool
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The seeds are so huge, like 2”, so in the dirt abandoned lots they are growing?
Or like in the dirt areas between lots?
They actually are adapted to sucker if damaged. For example, they can resprout from the roots if damaged in a forest fire, and there’s also a known specimen growing in a cemetery which produces suckers despite not having damage to the main trunk. I suspect the regular mowing and grass maintenance that tends to happen at cemeteries has caused lots of nicks across its shallower roots which stimulated them to develop shoots.
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Wow, that’s cool! Are the suckers right near the base or further out?
That part I’m not sure of.
By danger I meant the Stegasaurus-like sharp leaves on lower branches near passers-by and the heavy falling cones.