This time of year, thousands of pine trees are cut in the Pacific Northwest and shipped to Hawaii to satisfy the demand for Christmas trees. They arrive in huge containers, which often carry alien pests as well as the trees. They are unloaded at our ports and sold for astronomically high prices.
This time of year, thousands of pine trees are cut in the Pacific Northwest and shipped to Hawaii to satisfy the demand for Christmas trees. They arrive in huge containers, which often carry alien pests as well as the trees. They are unloaded at our ports and sold for astronomically high prices.
At least two tree species in the Araucariaceae family have a similar appearance to the Christmas trees we import grow well in Hawaii and can make wonderful, living alternatives to the imported trees. Though they are not actually in the pine family their common names, Norfolk Island pine and Cook Island pine relate to their similar appearance to members of the Pinaceae. These two trees are pine-like in their growth habit as well as being conifers meaning they produce cones like those that pines produce. They are both native to tropical islands in the Pacific and grow well here and in other tropical or sub-tropical climates. The Norfolk Island pine and the Cook Island Pine are very similar in appearance and characteristics and are often confused with one another. Though it has been suspected that the two species might have naturally crossed and hybridized here, that is unlikely since the two species produce pollen in different seasons.
The Norfolk pine or star pine (Araucaria heterophylla) is native to tiny Norfolk Island off the east coast of Australia. The Cook pine or columnar pine, (Araucaria columnaris) originated on the southern coast of New Caledonia and islands in the area including the Isle of Pines and the Loyalty Islands.
Records show an introduction of an Araucaria species into Hawaii in 1851 but it is unclear which of the island pines it was. Though the Norfolk pine is quite popular in the nursery business, it is the Cook pine that is more frequently grown here in Hawaii. Both are easy to grow and have been planted or grown wild here for at least the last century.
In 2002, Mike O’Brian started a business raising Norfolk pines to sell for Christmas at his Helemano Farms on Oahu. Today, the farm opens in early December allowing folks to pick out their own holiday tree to cut and take home. Though only available on Oahu, the farm does offer a local and more appealing and sustainable alternative to imported trees and they are Norfolk pines. These trees, when cut, regrow from the stump. The cut trees also stay green and hold their needles. They do not turn brown and drop like the imported pines, thus avoiding a mess. To learn more about the market potential of locally grown Christmas trees go to dlnr.hawaii.gov/forestry/files/2013/02/Hawaii-Grown-Christmas-Tree-Market-Potential.pdf for a DLNR study on the possibilities. Both Araucaria species have a tendency to grow very tall. In ideal conditions they can reach over 200 feet. Both are also popular as potted plants and can remain relatively small container plants for many years. In this way, they offer a local and live alternative to the cut pine Christmas trees we import. They can be used year after year in a moveable pot or they can be planted into the landscape. In either case, the live tree does not have to be disposed of in our overcrowded local landfills at the end of the season.
The young leaves of both plants are needle shaped and the branches bearing them grow in evenly spaced whorls around the tree giving the branches a very horizontal appearance when young. As the trees age and grow tall each takes on a slightly different shape. The Norfolk pine has a more pyramidal shape with a wide bottom gradually narrowing at the apex. The appearance of a mature Cook pine is more columnar and rocket-like with branches that are more closely spaced.
Both of these island pines produce seed cones that are visible on the tree but usually shatter to disperse their seeds before falling. New plants grow easily from the seeds and slower growing specimens can also be propagated from cuttings of terminal shoots.
Whether you buy a small seedling to grow in a pot and reuse as a decorative holiday tree or to plant in your landscape, you’ll find they are very adaptable and require minimal care and attention. They survive well in any warm, humid climate, in a variety of soil pHs and in full sun or partial shade. They do, however, do best with consistent soil moisture and may lose leaves if exposed to long dry periods.
These island pines make excellent potted plants as they grow slowly and have a root system that remains small in a container. They do not require frequent repotting. They only need watering when the top inch of soil is dry and they may respond well to misting in dry times. They need little fertilizer and can tolerate short periods of low light when indoors. Pruning is not necessary but can be done to maintain a desired shape or to remove any dead branches.
Overall, either of these lovely trees can be used as decorative container plants for many years. Some decorating ideas can be found at handsoccupied.com/2013/12/o-mini-christmas-tree/. You can also find more by entering “decorating a Norfolk pine for Christmas” and clicking on “images.”
Consider going living and green this holiday season and start a tradition of decorating a live tree. Area nurseries including Tropical Edibles in Captain Cook and Sunrise Nurseryin Kailua-Kona carry these trees in a variety of sizes.
Diana Duff is an organic farmer, plant adviser and consultant.