New Zealand Christmas bush
With wonderful red bottlebrush like flowers the New Zealand Christmas bush or pohutukawa is Metrosideros excelsa. A number of cultivars are offered by wholesale growers, including ‘crimson glory’ which is smaller than the species.
Metrosideros are mostly evergreen, with most species having flowers ranging from pink and yellow through to red. Many make good hedging plants and even the larger growing species can easily be pruned back to form a hedge with attractive foliage.
The newly released cultivar ‘Firecracker’ has variegated foliage and makes a useful alternative where foliage color variety is required.
Metrosideros grow well in areas of full sun to part shade in a humus rich well drained soil, they are reasonably drought tolerant once established
Species and varieties
In actual fact a number of species are known as the Christmas bush, Metrosideros are a varied group of plants ranging from large trees such as M. excelsa which can reach 25m and the smaller growing
- M. excelsus Thomasii – new silver to green foliage with red flowers
- M. kermadecensis which grows to approximately 15m
- Climbers and small shrubs such as the cultivar M. Fiji Fire which will grow to around 3m.
- Metrosideros excelsa ‘Variegata’ is a striking form of the New Zealand Christmas Bush, with its creamy edged foliage will reach around 10m in height. Masses of red flowers in spring to summer. Excellent as a hedge, screening plant or a feature tree. Grows well in coastal conditions as well. Foliage is thick with an grey indumentum on the underside.
- M. ‘Tahiti’ is a recently released dwarf form that can be grown in containers. If you are looking for a compact form of the Christmas bush, Metrosideros collina Tahiti is a good choice.
Glossy gray green oval shaped leaves that open a silvery green before deepening in color, red tinged stems and great orange – red flowers from spring to summer. Used widely as a low hedge and also as a container plant. Metrosideros collina Tahiti will reach around 1m in height with a similar spread.
Species include : M. excelsa, M. carminea, M. springfire, M. polymorpha, M. kermadecensis Variegata, Me. umbellata, M. villosus, M. vitiencensis and M. maungapiko
Available for sale from the following nurseries
125 Palmer Rd Jindivick 3818
Open Thursday - Sunday 10am - 4pm
Specialising in growing and selling Rare and Unusual Trees, shrubs Perennials Bulbs and Climbers, a unique nursery with amazing stock.
www.muskersbroughtonhall.com.au