Metrosideros excelsa

RHS Plant Profile

New Zealand Christmas tree

Other common names

New Zealand fire tree, pohutukawa

Synonyms

Metrosideros tomentosa

Shrubs Trees

Buy this from Plant Nurseries
2 Suppliers

An erect, freely-branching, wide-spreading evergreen tree, to 20m tall in its native New Zealand, with semi-glossy, leathery, dark green leaves, densely white-felted beneath. In summer it produces brush-like, bright red flowers, composed of numerous tufts of stamens

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Max Height

Higher than 12 metres

Max Spread

wider than 8 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: more than 50 years
Max Spread: wider than 8 metres
Max Height: Higher than 12 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H2

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Myrtaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Spreading branched
Genus: A genus of around 60 trees, shrubs and vines, most commonly grown for their showy, tufty predominantly red bottle brush-like flowers, which can also be orange, yellow or white. As they are frost tender, they are best suited as conservatory plants but can be seen outdoors in places such as the Scilly Isles or West Cornwall where frosts are extremely rare
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: New Zealand (North Island)

How to Grow

Cultivation

Under glass, grow in peat-free, loam-based potting compost in full light, with shade from hot sun. In growth, water freely and apply a balanced liquid fertiliser monthly, water sparingly at other times. Plants become borderline hardy once the stems become woody at around 5 years

Propagation

Propagate by sowing seed in spring. Root semi-ripe cuttings with bottom heat in summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Architectural
City and courtyard gardens
Coastal
Patio and container plants
Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

See pruning group 1; plants may need restrictive pruning under glass

Pests

May be susceptible to scale insects

Diseases

Generally disease-free