How to Grow Araucaria Plant (Christmas Tree): Pot or Ground?
The neat little “Christmas tree” sold in nursery pots across Pakistan and India is an araucaria, and it is a forest giant in disguise. In a pot it stays a tidy 4 to 8 feet for years. Planted in the ground beside a house, it can head for 60 feet or more, so the honest first question is not how to grow it but where.
Quick facts
- Usually sold: Araucaria heterophylla (Norfolk Island pine) or the narrower Araucaria columnaris (Cook pine); both are called Christmas tree plant locally
- Not a true pine: it is a conifer from the southern hemisphere
- Size outdoors: roughly 60 to 80 feet tall in warm climates; around 9 feet indoors
- Growth: fast in the ground, slow and steady in a pot
- Best planting months: February to March, or September to October on the plains
- Golden rule: never cut the top shoot
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Can you grow an araucaria (Christmas tree plant) in your city?
It likes warmth, steady moisture and humidity, and it dislikes hot dry wind and hard frost. NC State Extension lists it for frost free to near frost free zones. That maps onto our region like this:
| Zone | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Coastal humid (Karachi, Mumbai) | Plant | Mild winters, humid air; the easiest region for a ground tree if you have space |
| Punjab plains (Lahore, Faisalabad, Delhi) | Maybe | Does well in pots and sheltered lawns; needs summer shade from 2 pm and frost cover in some winters |
| Hot dry (Multan, Sukkur, Bahawalpur) | Maybe, in a pot | 45C dry wind browns the needle tips; keep it in shade during May and June |
| Sub-humid (Islamabad, Peshawar) | Maybe | Grows well, but young trees need covering on frost nights |
| Hills above about 1,500 m | Skip outdoors | Snow and hard frost; keep it as an indoor pot plant |
Araucaria roots: will they damage your house?
The roots are not known for breaking foundations the way peepal or banyan roots are, but Extension guidance warns that surface roots can lift pavements, and the bigger risk is the tree itself. A 60 foot trunk with heavy, brittle side branches beside a boundary wall is a storm hazard, and some cities in other countries restrict planting it for that reason.
- From the house wall: as a rule of thumb, at least 5 to 6 metres, more if you can.
- From boundary walls, paving and water tanks: at least 3 metres.
- From underground sewer or water lines: 3 metres or more; any tree root will chase a leaking joint.
- From overhead wires: do not plant under them at all.
If your plot cannot give those distances, keep it in a pot. That is the honest answer for most city houses of 5 to 10 marla.
How fast does araucaria grow, and how tall does it get?
In the ground with water and warmth, it is a fast tree, and the trunk adds a new tier (whorl) of branches most years. In a 12 to 16 inch pot, growth slows to a few inches to a foot a year, which is why it works as a long lived balcony plant. The pot keeps it small; age does not.
Best time to plant araucaria and how to do it
Plant in late winter to spring (February to March) or after the monsoon (September to October). Avoid May and June.
In a pot
- Choose a pot about 2 inches wider than the nursery bag: usually 12 inches (about 10 to 12 litres) for a 2 to 3 foot plant, moving up to 16 to 18 inches later.
- Mix 2 parts garden soil, 1 part well rotted compost and 1 part coarse sand. Our potting mix guide covers the reasons.
- Keep the trunk at the same soil level as in the bag. Burying the stem invites rot.
- Water deeply and keep it in bright shade for 10 days before giving it morning sun.
In the ground
- Mark the spot with the distances above.
- Dig a pit about 2 feet wide and deep; mix the dug soil with a few spadefuls of compost.
- Set the root ball level with the surface, backfill, firm gently and water in.
- Stake loosely for the first year in windy places, using a soft tie.
The one cut you must never make
Never cut or break the top shoot (the leader). Araucaria grows from that single tip. Once it is lost, a side branch may bend upward, but the tree never regains its straight, symmetrical shape. Protect it when moving pots through doorways, and keep it away from ceiling fans indoors.
Araucaria care for the first 2 years
- Sun: full morning sun with afternoon shade on the plains. Extension notes that full sun gives the most compact, symmetrical shape, while light afternoon shade prevents yellowing.
- Water, March to June: deeply whenever the top 2 inches are dry; pots may need water daily in 45C weeks, ground trees once or twice a week.
- Monsoon: water only if rain fails. Make sure pots drain.
- Winter: water sparingly, every 7 to 14 days for pots. Cover young trees with cloth on frost nights in Islamabad, Peshawar and upper Punjab.
- Feed: a handful of compost or a little mustard cake in March and September; a balanced NPK at half strength in spring is enough. See mustard cake and cow dung for plants.
- Turn pots a quarter turn every week so it does not lean towards the light.
- Pruning: only remove dead lower branches, cutting close to the trunk.
For seasonal watering of pots in general, see how often to water potted plants.
Can you grow araucaria from seed or cuttings?
Seed is the normal way, and Extension guides list seed as its propagation method. In practice, fresh seed is almost never sold in Pakistan or North India, and it loses viability quickly. If you do get fresh cones, sow seeds on their side, barely covered, in a sandy mix kept warm and lightly moist; germination is slow and patchy. Cuttings from side branches root but grow sideways for life, never into an upright tree, which is why nurseries do not sell them. Buy a sapling with a single, undamaged top.
Common problems
| Sign | Likely cause | First step |
|---|---|---|
| Brown, crisp needle tips | Hot dry wind, afternoon sun, missed watering | Move to afternoon shade; water more regularly |
| Lower branches yellowing and dropping | Too little light, or normal ageing | Brighter spot; cut off dead branches |
| Sticky needles, black film | Scale insects and sooty mould | See our scale insects guide |
| Drooping branches | Heavy shade or root rot | Check drainage before watering more |
A full grown araucaria is heavy, and its tall trunk can attract lightning; plant it well away from the house, gates and play areas. Its conifer pollen is a minor contributor to seasonal allergies compared with paper mulberry; if anyone at home is sensitive, see our Pakistan pollen calendar. Large pots weigh well over 30 kg when wet, so check the slab before putting several on a roof. Find more tree and flower guides in Phool aur Paudhe.
Christmas tree plant questions
Is the Christmas tree plant the same as araucaria?
Yes, in Pakistani and Indian nurseries the name almost always means an araucaria, usually Norfolk Island pine or Cook pine, not the fir or spruce used in Europe.
How tall does an araucaria grow in a pot?
Usually 4 to 8 feet over many years, depending on pot size. Indoors, around 9 feet is the typical ceiling.
Why are my araucaria needles turning brown?
Most often hot dry air, strong afternoon sun or uneven watering. New growth comes back green once the cause is fixed, but brown needles stay brown.
Can I keep araucaria indoors?
Yes, beside a bright window. It tolerates lower light for a couple of years, then begins dropping lower branches, so give it outdoor shade time in spring and autumn.
Can I cut the top of my araucaria to keep it short?
No. Cutting the leader ruins its shape permanently. Keep it short by keeping it in a pot instead.
How far from the house should I plant an araucaria?
At least 5 to 6 metres from walls and 3 metres from pipes and paving, and never under wires. Small plots are better served by a pot.
Does araucaria need full sun?
It prefers bright light with morning sun. On the plains, shade from about 2 pm in summer keeps the needles green.
Is araucaria poisonous to pets?
It is not usually listed among dangerous houseplants, but the sharp needles and sap can irritate. Keep chewing pets away and clean up fallen needles.
When should I repot an araucaria?
Every 2 to 3 years in February or March, moving up one pot size. It dislikes root disturbance, so do not tease the roots apart.