This tall, slender conifer is Cook’s Pine, Araucaria columnaris. Despite its common name, it is not a true pine. It belongs to the ancient Araucariaceae family, a group of conifers whose ancestors were present during the age of the dinosaurs.

Cook’s Pine is native to New Caledonia and nearby islands in the southwestern Pacific. It can grow into a very tall tree, sometimes reaching well over 150 feet in its natural habitat.

The scientific name columnaris refers to its narrow, column-like form. Young trees are usually very symmetrical, with branches arranged in regular horizontal tiers around a straight central trunk. As the tree matures, the lower branches may fall away, leaving a tall trunk topped by a narrow crown.

The foliage is made up of many small, overlapping, scale-like leaves rather than the long needles we associate with true pines. The branches often grow in distinct whorls, giving the tree a formal, almost architectural appearance.

One of the most unusual features of Cook’s Pine is its tendency to lean toward the equator when planted away from its native range. Here in the Northern Hemisphere, that usually means a slight lean toward the south. The farther a tree grows from the equator, the more noticeable that lean may become.

Cook’s Pines reproduce by cones rather than flowers or fruits. Male trees produce long, narrow pollen cones, while female trees develop much larger, rounded seed cones high in the crown.

When the seed cones mature, they usually break apart on the tree rather than falling intact. The individual scales and seeds then drop to the ground below.

Cook’s Pine is widely planted in tropical and subtropical regions because of its graceful height, narrow silhouette and ability to tolerate wind and coastal conditions.

From a distance, it often rises above the surrounding vegetation like a natural landmark. Its tall, straight trunk and evenly spaced branches make it one of the easiest tropical conifers to recognize.