WateringTimesWatering plan, $19
Araucaria heterophylla, WUCOLS IV

How often to water Norfolk Island pine in California

In July in the Central Valley, established Norfolk Island pine in loam needs a deep watering about every 8 days: about 55 gallons each time under a 10 foot canopy, about 47 gallons a week. Norfolk Island pine is a fast growing evergreen with a single straight trunk and branches set in neat, horizontal tiers, usually five to a tier. In mild climates it can reach 60 to 100 feet outdoors, while a potted plant indoors may grow to about 9 feet. It wants well-drained soil that is watered regularly but never left soggy.

TreeRated for 4 of 6 zones

How often to water Norfolk Island pine, month by month

Your city
Canopy width
10 ft
Your soil

Type your city above and the days between waterings and the gallons appear here, worked out from your city's climate table. Or read the figures by climate zone further down.

Every month, on your water days. The personal plan prints this for Norfolk Island pine and the rest of your yard, on the days your water supplier allows.Get the plan for $19

How this is worked out: established roots fill the top 1.5 feet of soil, and you water again when that soil has dried halfway. Loam soil holds about 1.5 inches of water per foot. Water the whole area under the branches, and skip a watering after a good soaking rain.

Which soil do you have?

Dig down a few inches, take a handful of moist soil and squeeze it.

  • Sandy: gritty, falls apart when you open your hand, will not form a ball.
  • Loam: forms a soft ball that crumbles when you poke it.
  • Clay: forms a firm, sticky ball and squeezes out into a ribbon between thumb and finger.

Still not sure? Pick loam. Most garden beds sit between sand and clay.

How to measure canopy width

A tree with its canopy width marked across the widest branches and the circle under it shaded blue

Measure across the branches, from the tips of the outer leaves on one side to the tips on the other. A tape works, or pace it out.

Water the whole circle under the branches, shown in blue. The gallons here cover that circle.

A wider canopy means more gallons each watering, not more waterings. While the tree is young, measure again each spring.

How to tell it needs water

  • Soil dry 3 to 4 inches down near an outdoor Norfolk Island pine signals that it needs a deep soak
  • Lower branches browning and dropping on a potted plant can follow very low light, not only dry soil
  • Yellow tints on the foliage in strong afternoon sun are bleaching, which light shade prevents
  • Sticky needles and black sooty mold point to scale insects rather than a watering problem
  • Yellowing foliage over soil that stays wet can indicate overwatering or poor drainage

How to water it

  • Water an outdoor tree across the root zone beneath its branches, not just at the trunk
  • Soak the soil about a foot deep, then let the top couple of inches dry before the next soak
  • Plant in well-drained soil in full sun, with ample room for its height
  • Keep lawn and paving well back, since surface roots can lift sidewalks and hamper mowing
  • Extend the watered area outward as the tree adds height and its roots spread

Through the seasons

Water a newly planted Norfolk Island pine deeply through its first summers while roots establish. Established trees take deep soakings with the upper soil allowed to dry between them. This evergreen grows actively from spring to autumn, when regular watering matters most, and needs much less in winter. WUCOLS rates Norfolk Island pine moderate water on the north-central coast, in the Central Valley, on the south coast and in South Inland. WUCOLS marks it as not suited to the high desert or the low desert. Winter rain usually covers outdoor trees on the coast and in the Central Valley.

In pots

Norfolk Island pine is a popular container plant indoors or on a bright patio. Use a porous, slightly acidic, well-drained potting mix in a pot with drainage holes. From spring to autumn, water when the top inch or two feels dry, soaking until water drains out, and avoid keeping the mix wet. Empty the saucer after each watering. Give it bright light with some afternoon shade to prevent yellow bleaching. In winter, water sparingly, and keep an indoor plant in a bright, cool room.

1 Your climate zone six WUCOLS zones, each from its own reference city
2.67gal per sq ft in JulyModerate water use in the Central Valley zone
A year
17.11 gal per sq ft
Reference
Sacramento climate table
Counts
Plant need, before sprinkler losses
0.671.32.02.70.4JAN0.65FEB1.09MAR1.52APR2.08MAY2.48JUN2.67JUL2.39AUG1.8SEP1.18OCT0.56NOV0.34DEC0.671.32.02.70.4JFM1.52AMJ2.67JAS1.18OND
Gallons per square foot per month, Central Valley. Peak 2.67 in Jul, 17.11 a year.

Monthly water need by climate zone

Norfolk Island Pine: gallons per square foot per month, by WUCOLS climate zone

MonthN. CoastC. ValleyS. CoastS. InlandHi DesertLo Desert
Jan0.370.40.780.78––
Feb0.530.650.810.87––
Mar0.871.091.151.3––
Apr1.181.521.41.61––
May1.462.081.611.95––
Jun1.612.481.742.29––
Jul1.612.671.982.51––
Aug1.492.391.862.33––
Sep1.241.81.491.86––
Oct0.871.181.151.33––
Nov0.470.560.840.9––
Dec0.310.340.650.68––
Year1217.1115.518.41––

How this is worked out: the WUCOLS water rating for each zone times that zone’s climate for the month. A dash means WUCOLS does not rate the plant there. The figures are what the plant uses, before sprinkler losses.

Plants with the same water needs 16

Rated moderate water in the Central Valley, like Norfolk Island pine. Plants that drink alike can share one valve and one schedule.

Citrus TreesCitrus spp.moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyJapanese MapleAcer palmatummoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyAvocado TreesPersea americanamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyMagnolia TreesMagnolia grandiflora ssp. & cvs.moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyPalm TreesSyagrus romanzoffiana (Arecastrum romanzoffianum)moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyApple TreesMalus spp. (edible) e.g, 'Anna' (low chill variety for low desert)moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyPeach TreesPrunus spp. ediblemoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyPersimmon TreesDiospyros kakimoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyAmur MapleAcer ginnalamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyFernleaf MapleAcer japonicummoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyBox ElderAcer negundomoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyNorway MapleAcer platanoidesmoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyRed MapleAcer rubrummoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyChinese MapleAcer truncatummoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyRed BuckeyeAesculus paviamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyRed HorsechestnutAesculus x carneamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July

Similar plants that need less water 16

Rated lower than Norfolk Island pine in the Central Valley. Worth a look for a new bed or a lawn replacement.

Olive TreesOlea europaea ssp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyFig TreesFicus carica ssp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyCrape MyrtleLagerstroemia spp., hybrids & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyAloeAloe spp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyPomegranate TreesPunica granatumlow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyEucalyptusEucalyptus polyanthemoslow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyPine TreesPinus canariensislow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyJunipersJuniperus spp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyTexas Red OakQuercus buckleyilow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyPortuguese OakQuercus faginealow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulySoapbark TreeQuillaja saponarialow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyNecklace TreeSophora affinislow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyBailey AcaciaAcacia baileyanalow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulySilver WattleAcacia dealbatalow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyGreen WattleAcacia decurrenslow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulySydney Golden WattleAcacia longifolialow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
Minutes for your sprinklers

Turn this into minutes on your water days

Every city page has a calculator that takes Norfolk Island pine, your sprinkler type and the month, and gives the minutes per water day for that supplier's schedule. Or put it in a zone of the personal watering plan and get all twelve months printed.

Questions people ask

How often should I water Norfolk Island pine in summer?

In July, established Norfolk Island pine in loam needs a deep watering about every 8 days in the Central Valley, about every 11 days on the south coast and about every 9 days in the South Inland zone. Sandy soil holds less water, so waterings come closer together. Clay stretches them. Check the soil before each watering and skip one after a soaking rain.

How much water does Norfolk Island pine need per day?

In July in the Central Valley, established Norfolk Island pine needs about 6.8 gallons a day under a 10 foot canopy and about 27 gallons a day under a 20 foot canopy. Give it in deep waterings spread days apart rather than a little every day, so the whole root zone gets wet.

Does watering for Norfolk Island pine change across California?

Yes. WUCOLS rates Norfolk Island pine separately for each of the six California climate zones: moderate water in the North-Central Coastal zone, moderate water in the Central Valley zone, moderate water in the South Coastal zone, moderate water in the South Inland zone, not suited to this region in the High and Intermediate Desert zone, not suited to this region in the Low Desert zone. The monthly table above shows how the same rating translates into different gallon amounts as reference evapotranspiration changes.

Why is my Norfolk Island pine losing its lower branches?

Indoors, very low light can cause leaf drop and loss of lower branches after a few years. Move it to a bright spot near a window. Check the soil too, since a pot left soggy or bone dry adds stress.

How big does a Norfolk Island pine get outdoors?

Planted out in a mild climate, expect 60 to 100 feet of height and a spread of 12 to 60 feet. Give it an open, sunny site well away from buildings and paving. Its heavy cones and surface roots need room.

Are Norfolk Island pine cones dangerous?

Female cones are spiny and can weigh 10 to 15 pounds when they drop after about 18 months of ripening. Keep paths and seating out from under seed bearing trees. Most trees carry only male or only female cones.

Can Norfolk Island pine grow near the ocean?

Yes. It tolerates salt and wind, which suits coastal gardens. It still needs well-drained soil and deep soakings in the dry months.

Can you overwater a Norfolk Island pine?

Yes. Keep the soil from staying too wet, especially in pots and through winter. Let the top of the mix dry before watering again, and never leave the pot in standing water.

Can I keep a potted Norfolk Island pine as a living Christmas tree?

Yes, it is often sold that way. Keep it in a bright, cool room through the holidays. Water sparingly in winter, letting the top of the mix dry between soakings.

More plant watering guides

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Sources