Metrosideros umbellata 'Gold Nugget'

RHS Plant Profile

southern rata 'Gold Nugget'

Synonyms

Metrosideros 'Gold Nugget'
Metrosideros 'Golden Nugget'
Metrosideros umbellata 'Lownug'
Metrosideros umbellata Gold Nugget

Shrubs

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A compact, dense and bushy, rounded evergreen shrub, slowly growing to 2m. The young branches are silky and bear narrowly oval, shiny leaves, golden yellow when they first emerge and retaining this colour for many months. In summer, mature plants produce brush-like, pinkish-red flowers composed of numerous tufts of stamens

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Max Height

1.5-2.5 metres

Max Spread

1-1.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 20–50 years
Max Spread: 1-1.5 metres
Max Height: 1.5-2.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand

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

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Exposed or 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): H4

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Myrtaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
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: Accepted

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. Outdoors in mild districts, grow in humus-rich, moderately fertile, moist but well-drained, neutral to acid soil in full sun. Shelter from cold, drying winds

Propagation

Propagate by semi-ripe cuttings with bottom heat in summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Coastal
Patio and container plants
City and courtyard gardens
Wall side borders
Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

See pruning group 1

Pests

May be susceptible to scale insects

Diseases

Generally disease-free