An evergreen, pyramid-shaped tree, the monkey puzzle grows up to 50 m high with a trunk circumference of up to 2.5 m. The tree's most distinguishing feature is its leaves. They are stiff, dark green and glossy with a spiny tip and completely cover each branch, closely overlapping each other. The visual effect is wholly unusual and while many consider the appearance of the tree majestic, others find its scaly, almost reptilian foliage somewhat scary. The horizontal branches are produced in tiers and have few side branches. The female cone is globular and up to 20 cm in diameter; the male cone is cylindrical and up to 15 cm long. Trees normally have cones of only one sex, rarely both.