The belief that it’s unlucky to speak while walking under a monkey puzzle, Araucaria araucana, tree has been well recorded, and dates back at least to the 1930s (see Material Collected on this website).  However a participant in a Woodland Trust’s LGBTQIA+ Staff Network event on 5 February contributed the following:

‘Monkey puzzles were always lucky for us, and you had to shout ”Monkey Puzzle” when you saw one.  I’m from London and we would always do it, and now I do it with my children (might be just a family thing).’

However, it seems that this idea is not ‘just a family thing’, as another participant commented:  ‘We also did that from south Manchester!’

Any comments on monkey puzzles being lucky (or unlucky) would be greatly appreciated; please send them to roy@plant-lore.com

Image:  planted in front garden, Cowbridge Road East, Cardiff, March 2025.