Recently I had the great pleasure of visiting the island of Hawaii, where I got to experience an entirely different side of nature than what I’m used to.
Out of all of the incredible trees and plants that I expected to see in this tropical destination, I did not anticipate to be impressed by a pine tree.
However, this particular species of pine tree is worth talking about!
From the incredible symmetry, to the unique branches with soft needles – I had to know more.
Little did I know, the spark in my curiosity about this humble tree would lead me down exciting rabbit holes about the history of
- Tropical islands
- Ship captains
- Worldwide exploration
- And the thousands of miles that these very trees traveled!
All to adorn the landscapes they now reside in!
What is a Norfolk Island Pine Tree?
Norfolk Island Pine (Araucaria Heterophylla) is an evergreen, coniferous pine tree native to Norfolk Island in the South Pacific Ocean.
The soft lumber that these pine trees provide is commonly used in cabinetry, furniture, plywood, and can be used to make paper!
In the United States, you will most commonly find these trees in subtropical landscaping, or indoors as holiday decor and live house plants.
What Makes the Norfolk Island Pine Tree Special?
If you’re from anywhere inland North America like me, you’re probably familiar with other species of pine trees like
- Ponderosa pine
- Lodgepole pine
- Douglas fir
- You know, your basic forest tree type of pine.
These types of pine trees have sticky, pokey pine needles that you avoid touching. Right?
Well, what is so incredible about the Norfolk pines, is that the pine needles that grow from this tree are
- Short
- Dull
- Extremely soft!
Instead of feeling dry and brittle, these pine needles feel soft, bendy, and full of moisture.
Because of their upward growing, wide, and soft branches, these trees are now commonly cultivated as Christmas trees and as decorative house plants.
Grown indoors, these trees average 2-8′ tall and can be grown as bonsai’s or mini trees.
They tend to thrive in relatively humid environments with plenty of sunshine.
You can buy your own Norfolk Pine tree here!
You too, can adorn your household or landscape with one of these beautiful, tropical trees!
As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through the links provided on this page at no additional cost to you!
Where Do Norfolk Island Pine Trees Grow?
As aforementioned, these trees were originally found on Norfolk Island, an Australian territory located between Australia, New Caledonia, and New Zealand.
These trees are so iconic on the island that the Norfolk Island flag actually features a Norfolk pine tree!
In 1774, Captain James Cook discovered the small island and coined the name for these incredible trees.
Before leaving the island, the Captain took some of the pine cones and brought them to Hawaii where they are commonly found and cultivated today.
These days, you can find these fun trees growing outside in U.S. states like
- California
- Oregon
- Florida
- Texas
As well as areas like
- The United Kingdom
- Australia
- New Zealand
- New Caledonia
- And other surrounding islands
The more I explore the world, the more I am amazed by the diversity and variety that appears in nature.
Learning about the expeditions of Captain James Cook, the island of Norfolk, and these unique trees has been such a pleasure.
Due to this quest for education, now I will soon be the proud owner of a Norfolk Island pine houseplant – and I hope you will be too!
I’d love to hear about your experience with cultivating Norfolk Island pine trees!
And if you already know some history on Captain Cook and Norfolk island, you can probably guess which other unique tree I will be covering soon – stay tuned.
Thanks for reading, until next time.
Happy exploring!
-Jessica C.
Bigfoot's Friend 
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