Brisbane tree guide

Hoop pine

Araucaria cunninghamii · also called Moreton Bay pine, Queensland pine, Richmond River pine

The hoop pine is a tall native conifer named for the ring-like bands that circle its trunk. It grows naturally in rainforest from north-eastern New South Wales to Cape York and reaches its best in South East Queensland, where it was the mainstay of the timber industry until the Second World War. Brisbane City Council lists it as a street tree that grows 15 to 30 metres tall.

Native to South East Queensland
15 to 30 m tall

Free quote 0438 988 985

A hoop pine tree in Brisbane — Photo: John Robert McPherson, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Hoop pine at a glance

Height: 15 to 30 m (up to 50 m in the wild)
Leaves: Evergreen
Flowers: Small and easy to miss
Origin: Rainforest from north-eastern NSW to Cape York, at its best in South East Queensland
Power lines: Not on the council's list for under power lines
Family: Araucariaceae

How to identify a hoop pine

Hoop pine has a long, straight trunk with dark grey-brown bark that sheds in horizontal strips, leaving the ring-like bands behind its name. The foliage sits in dense tufts at the ends of the branches and is made of short, curved, sharp-tipped leaves under 1 cm long. Young trees carry longer, flat, needle-like leaves that stick out from the stems. Egg-shaped cones about 10 cm long ripen from green to brown and fall apart to release their seeds. Its close relatives are the bunya pine and the Norfolk Island pine.

Growing a hoop pine in Brisbane

This is a true Brisbane tree. When it was first named in 1829, it was described as growing in abundance on the banks of the Brisbane River. It is hardy, adapts to a range of soils, and Brisbane City Council lists it as a street tree for coastal, creek-side and higher ground precincts and for arterial roads, on verges 2.5 metres or wider in some precincts. It isn't listed for use under power lines. At 15 to 30 metres, it needs a large block or park.

What to watch out for

Size is the main issue. Hoop pine grows 15 to 30 metres tall in Brisbane streets and much taller in the wild, so plant it well clear of houses, pools and power lines. The short leaves end in sharp points, so handle young trees with gloves. Any work on a tall pine is a job for a qualified arborist with the right gear.

Size. It grows 15 to 30 metres tall in Brisbane streets and up to about 50 metres in the wild, so it needs plenty of space.
Spines. The short leaves end in sharp points, and young trees carry longer, needle-like leaves, so wear gloves when handling them.

Pruning and care

Hoop pine needs little pruning. On young trees, keep a single central leader so it grows one straight trunk, and remove dead or damaged branches cleanly. Avoid cutting off the top. Young trees grow happily in a large pot for some years and can even be kept indoors, but they eventually need planting out with plenty of room. Once established, they are hardy and adapt to most soils. Work high in a mature tree is a job for a qualified arborist.

Hoop pine: your questions

Short answers, from the sources below.

Back to the tree guide

How tall does a hoop pine grow?

In Brisbane streets a hoop pine usually reaches 15 to 30 metres, and in rainforest it can grow to about 50 metres.

Is hoop pine native to Brisbane?

Yes. It grows naturally in rainforest from north-eastern New South Wales to Cape York and is at its best in South East Queensland, including along the Brisbane River.

Why is it called a hoop pine?

Its bark sheds in horizontal strips, leaving ring-like bands around the trunk that look like hoops.

Can a hoop pine grow in a pot?

Young hoop pines make attractive container plants indoors or out, but they eventually need planting out in a large garden or park.

Compare with

Sources and credits

Photo: John Robert McPherson, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

This profile updates sheet 7 of the plant profile booklet made for Colourful Tree Lopping in 2013. We checked every fact against current sources and rewrote it for the guide.

Checked October 2026. Weed listings and council rules change: check the council's and the Queensland Government's pages before you act.