PlantFiles: Queensland Kauri
Agathis robusta

The massive tree has many positive features including colorful bark exfoliating in irregular patches. The 'leaves' are phyllodia (modified stems) that go through various color changes from pink juvenile to mature medium green foliage. The narrow erect growth habit and small foot print lends this tree to be used as a skyline accent, but this growth pattern does not always work well with the inconsistent fruiting cycles here in California. The green cones can bend branches with their weight during high yield seasons. Some cones may need to be removed to prevent limb damage. Many older large gardens have used this tree to its best advantage and usually are found alongside large open spaces.

I have only seen this tree grown in the Southern California Botanical gardens... it is a popular item due to its immense stature, yet it takes up very little lateral room. It grows to well over 100' in northern Australia, and is getting that tall in the photographed examples shown from the Huntington Gardens, Pasadena, Ca. This tree has foliage that looks a LOT like a cycad (Zamias)- thick, leathery, shiny, dark green leaves. The cones are very attractive extremely solid/heavy coils of material that look woven (caution when walking near one). It is closely related to the Norfolk Island Pine and Monkey Puzzle trees (Araucarias). For those in southern climates that want to have a gigantic spire of a tree, this could be for you. They are hard to find in cultivation, though.