The Paraná is referred to as a pine, but it actually belongs to the same genus as the Australian Bunya Bunya, the Norfolk Island Pine, and the native Kauri tree.

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It is a huge evergreen tree, reaching up to 40 metres tall, with sharp, leathery leaves. It lives for hundreds of years and is critically endangered in its native habitat.

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It is grown for its nuts, which are high in carbohydrates, and taste like a mild cross between a Pinenut and a Chestnut. They can be boiled, fried or roasted, and are absolutely delicious.

 

The nuts occur in large cones which break apart on the tree, resulting in the nuts falling down individually. A mature tree can produce dozens of large cones annually and each cone can contain 100-150 seeds.

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Paraná trees can tolerate poor soils and dry conditions, but prefer good drainage. They can handle light frosts when established but need protection when smaller. They are wind pollinated with male and female flowers usually being produced on different trees, so 3-5 trees are recommended to ensure cross pollination. Our own trees are still small, but we expect flowering to commence at around 10 years of age.

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We believe this tree has massive potential in Aotearoa as a producer of staple food, given the high carbohydrate value of the nut, the high yields from each tree, and their long productive lifespan.

 

Size: 1.3L