Our Norfolk Island Pine (Araucaria heterophylla) is a party waiting to happen! Also known as the living Christmas tree, he's ready for lights, ornaments, and all manner of holiday costume. His upright trunk and pyramidal shape hold soft, whorled branches (typically 5 per whorl) in neat layers. He does double duty: a live Christmas tree for the season, then an easy-going houseplant that keeps growing year after year. A holiday gift that lasts.
Araucaria heterophylla Care Guide
Rotate your Norfolk plant in front of a bright, direct light window for all sides to get enough light for photosynthesis.
Keep consistently moist during the spring and summer. Let the soil dry a bit more in the winter months but still stay consistently lightly moist. If the needles turn yellow and drop, check the soil's moisture and humidity levels.
Your Norfolk pine will need an average of 50% humidity to keep him comfortable.
Keep this plant in cooler temperatures with lots of moisture in the air to imitate their natural environment.
This little guy doesn't like to get his toes or needles cold. Bring him in when temps are hitting 50°F or below.
Apply a balanced fertilizer at half-strength every other month in the growing season.
When receiving the Norfolk Pine, do not repot immediately but wait at least 6-12 months or if the roots are beginning to get crowded and growing through the drainage holes. Repot this little guy in the spring, using a 2 inches bigger pot to keep the roots drier. (Too big of a planter could cause the soil to dry slower.) Place a piece of screening at the bottom of the container over the drainage hole to secure the soil and allow to drain. Fill in around your container and the bottom with equal parts of sterilized potting soil, coconut coir, and sand or perlite, with one tablespoon of bone meal to encourage root growth. Water your plant in the old pot before transferring over and let sit overnight. Add well-draining interior potting soil to the bottom to elevate the root ball. Lift the plant and release the roots against the existing planter. Use a clean knife or garden trowel to wedge between the pot and the soil to loosen. Inspect the root ball. Notice if there are any dead or rotting roots and trim them off with sterile pruners. Ensure the plant is sitting about 1 inch below the edge of the pot to avoid water spillage. Add more soil and backfill around the sides by tamping down. Fill up to the soil line but not over. Do not water again until the soil is registering three on the plant meter. If soil settling occurs after watering, add more periodically but do not cover the trunk above the surface.
Remove any dead, damaged, or diseased limbs, but this little guy is low maintenance and usually won't need any pruning.
In early autumn, collect the cones that fall from this little guy. Break apart the cone and gather the seeds, and plant quickly. Use equal parts of loam, sand, and coco coir. Plant the pointed end down at a 45° angle with a bit of the rounded end visible above the soil. Keep the soil consistently damp and sit and watch. Keep it in bright, indirect light. Viable seeds should sprout within two weeks. As they grow, continue to rotate your planter (with drainage) to get the benefits of light from all sides.
You might also like...
Recently viewed
Norfolk Pine Care & Buying Guide
Norfolk Island Pine For Sale: Overview
The Norfolk Island Pine (Araucaria heterophylla) is a beautiful evergreen conifer with an upright trunk and delicate, feathery needles on horizontal branches forming a neat, pyramidal shape. It can be the perfect potted Christmas tree for the holiday season, with the added benefit of adapting to warmer indoor conditions.
Not a true pine, this beautiful pine-like tree belongs to the Araucariaceae family, which has some of the most ancient plant species on earth among its members. Native only to Norfolk Island in the South Pacific, between New Zealand and New Caledonia, the Norfolk Island pine has traditionally been used for timber, furniture making, and shipbuilding.
This beautiful plant can grow outdoors in USDA hardiness zones 10-11 but must be brought indoors if the temperatures fall below 50°F. A mature indoor Norfolk Pine will grow up to around 5-6 ft tall, and will not exceed 8 ft. This charming tree is relatively easy to care for and it symbolizes abundance, growth, and balance. Good news for pet owners: the ASPCA lists the Norfolk Island pine as non-toxic to cats and dogs, so it belongs with our pet-friendly plants.
For more festive decor, add our fresh-cut Holiday Wreath and aromatic Cedar Garland. Shopping for a group? A 4-pack of Mini Norfolk Pine Trees makes an easy set of holiday gifts.
Norfolk Island Pine: Benefits
- Non-toxic to cats and dogs, per the ASPCA
- Excellent festive decor for the holidays
- Easy to care for
- With a delicate pine scent
- Beautiful live Christmas tree that you can enjoy for many holiday seasons
Araucaria Heterophylla: Common Names
- Australian Pine
- Living Christmas Tree
- House Pine
- Star Pine
- Polynesian Pine
Living Christmas Tree Care: The Basics
The Norfolk Island pine is a tropical houseplant, not a cold-hardy conifer, so it is happiest indoors through the holidays and long after:
- Light: a bright window with direct light. Turn the pot regularly so every side fills out.
- Water: keep the soil lightly moist, never soggy. Yellowing, dropping needles usually mean the soil or the air is too dry.
- Humidity: aim for about 50%. A pebble tray or humidifier helps in heated winter rooms.
- Temperature: 55°F to 65°F is ideal. Keep it away from heat vents and bring it inside before nights drop to 50°F.
- After the holidays: take off the lights and ornaments and keep it in the same bright spot as a year-round houseplant.
For soil, repotting, and propagation, see our full Norfolk Island pine care guide. Branches drooping or browning? Our guide to common Norfolk pine problems covers the fixes.
Norfolk Island Pine Christmas Tree: Placement, Companion & Alternative Plants
An Araucaria heterophylla Norfolk Island Pine makes a delightful statement plant, especially during the holidays when it can be decorated with lights and ornaments.
Best Locations & Uses
- Beautiful centerpiece plant in the living room
- Great balcony or porch plant for the holiday season in warmer climates
- Wonderful gift plant
- Perfect for well-lit and humid spaces
- A living alternative to a fresh-cut Christmas tree that keeps growing after the holidays
Companion Plants
To decorate your living space this holiday season, combine the Norfolk Pine Tree with other gorgeous holiday plants:
- Red Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii): The beautiful Red Christmas Cactus is a tropical epiphyte that thrives in higher humidity and bright light, producing showy red and white blooms.
- Aglaonema Red Siam (Aglaonema commutatum ‘Red Siam’): An easy-care exotic beauty, the Aglaonema Red Siam sports beautiful, multicolored foliage and grows best in well-lit spaces.
- Baby Blue Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus pulverulenta ‘Baby Blue’): With its adorable, round blue-green foliage, the Baby Blue Eucalyptus is prized as a decorative plant for floral displays.
Alternative Plants
If you’re not sure about growing a Norfolk Pine tree in your indoor space but would like a festive centerpiece, check out these amazing alternatives:
- Leyland Cypress Christmas Tree (Cuprocyparis leylandii): The beautiful Leyland Cypress Christmas Tree is a charming alternative to Norfolk Pine, which also thrives in full sun.
- Rosemary Christmas Tree (Rosmarinus officinalis): With its amazing scent and beautiful needle-like leaves, the Rosemary Christmas Tree is a beautiful festive decoration for smaller spaces and a wonderful culinary herb.
- Lavender Topiary (Lavandula stoechas 'Primavera'): For an unusual holiday centerpiece, get an elegant Lavender Topiary and decorate this lovely potted herb with beautiful Holiday Lights for Plants.
Order a Norfolk Pine Christmas Tree From Lively Root
Make your holidays merry and bright with a Norfolk Island pine from Lively Root. Choose a Small, Medium, or Extra Large tree in a grower pot or Eco Pot, add a gift note in the cart, and enjoy our 30 Day Happiness Guarantee.
