Pōhutukawa

Metrosideros excelsa · Myrtaceae · also Pohutukawa, New Zealand Christmas tree

An iconic sprawling coastal tree to 20 m with a canopy that can spread 10 to 50 m, leathery dark leaves and crimson bottlebrush flowers around Christmas. It clings to sea cliffs and shorelines and is planted throughout New Zealand towns, so much so that its natural southern limit is unclear. Possum browsing and myrtle rust are its main threats; in parts of the South Island and overseas (the Azores, Madeira, South Africa) it naturalises from plantings.

Broadleaf evergreenSlow growingFull sunLow water

Wikimedia Commons, file PohutukawaCornwallis.jpg (see file page for author and licence)

Where it stands

Native

🇳🇿 New Zealand · Endemic to the northern North Island; planted and naturalising elsewhere in NZsource

Adapted

🇵🇹 Portugal · Introduced to the Azores and Madeira per WCVPsource

Invasive

🇿🇦 South Africa · On the NEMBA 2020 national list of invasive species (New Zealand Christmas tree); the gazette text extracted gives no further category qualifier, so check the current listsource

Care

Plant small, sheltered by nurse shrubs if exposed, as initial growth is slow; water through the first summer. Tolerates drought, salt and poor soil once established. Prune after flowering only if necessary. Watch for myrtle rust (yellow pustules on new growth) and report it. Aerial roots and wide crowns need space away from paths.

Benefits

FlowersBirdsPollinatorsSalt tolerantDrought tolerantHolds soilWildlife

Good for

parksYard shadeStreet treeStreambanks

Watch out for

Large rootsInvasive elsewhere