Where is Norfolk Island?

Pull out a map and find Australia. Then take a sharp right at Brisbane and travel over 900 miles of water and you’ll discover tiny (it's only about 13 square miles in size) subtropical territory of Norfolk Island. This is where this plant originated, and where famed British explorer Captain James Cook discovered the Norfolk Island pine in 1774.

It Starts with a Seed

Costa Farms gathers seeds from large, football-size cones from Norfolk Island pines grown in Oahu, Hawaii (it’s so much closer than Norfolk Island). We harvest the lime-green prickly cones that grow at the tops of the trees the old-fashioned way—by climbing the trees. The tall, tall (200-foot!) trees.

Hand Planted with Love

The cones harvested in Hawaii are carefully stored in special coolers (and kept at a consistent temperature of 38 degrees F.). We bring the cones home to our farm in South Florida and harvest the seeds from the cones so they can be planted.

Germination or Bust!

Once the seeds are harvested, we're on a timeline to get them planted as they hold up only for a limited time.

After planting, the seeds take 9 to 13 days to germinate. Sadly, each seed doesn’t make it. Only 50 percent of the seeds sprout. It takes special care and patience to grow these plants.

A Sea of Green

The sprouted seeds begin a long journey that brings them to your home. Costa Farms produces almost 2 million Norfolk Island plants a year. We are the largest grower of Norfolk Island pines in the US, so we have a lot of experience in producing healthy plants. From seed to sprouts to plants, we care for our Norfolk Island pines at our farm in South Florida. The tiny plants spend one whole year growing in trays. Then they are transplanted into plug trays for another whole year. After that they are planted into 4- and 6-inch pots.

First Hair Cut

Since Norfolk Island pines are actually trees, they need to be trimmed back to help maintain their small size; this also helps them become more dense and leafy. Keeping them coiffed when they are young helps them become attractive houseplants. So these baby Norfolk Island pines get their first haircut when they are just months old.

Grow, Baby Grow

There’s a reason the place where plants are grown is called a nursery. In this environment, these baby plants grow into happy lush plants. For several years, the Norfolk Island pines enjoy the warm sunny Florida weather, drinking up nurturing rains.

Another Journey Begins

When the Norfolk Island pines are ready to sell, they are wrapped up and packed into trucks. At Christmas, we decorate these living Christmas trees for you. When they reach the shelves of your local home improvement store or mass merchandiser, they are several years old and have experienced a lot of growth and changes. And now they are ready to be part of your home.