Some trees are good for tree-houses. Some trees are not. Guess which category this one fits into? It’s a conifer, and like all conifers will produce no flowers ...

The ancient monkey puzzle tree has distinctive spiny leaves and intricate scaly branches. Its unusual features, scientists believe, evolved as a defense against towering, long-necked dinosaurs.

The majority of plants that qualify as horticultural oddities are modest in size: many can dwell happily on windowsills. Among notable exceptions is monkey puzzle tree, aka devil’s tree. Up to 80 feet ...