How do you grow Metrosideros excelsa?

A full sun to part shade lover, this plant is easily grown in dry to medium moisture, neutral to slightly alkaline, well-drained soils. Good drainage is critical. Drought tolerant.

How do you take care of a New Zealand Christmas Tree?

What about New Zealand Christmas tree care? Plant these trees in a full sun or partial sun location. They need well-draining soil, neutral to alkaline. Wet soil can result in root rot, but in good growing conditions the trees are largely free of pests and diseases.

Is Metrosideros native to Australia?

The oldest conclusive record of Metrosideros are fossil fruits and flowers of Metrosideros leunigii, an extinct species, from Oligocene aged sediments in Tasmania, Australia. This is very curious considering that Metrosideros is one of the most widely spread plants in the Pacific, and is not present in Australia today.

Which tree is known as the New Zealand Christmas Tree?

pōhutukawa
The blazing red flowers of pōhutukawa around Christmas time have earned this tree the title of New Zealand’s Christmas tree. Pōhutukawa and rātā belong to the genus Metrosideros.

Are Metrosideros roots invasive?

Root system can become invasive, so it is best not to plant Metrosideros excelsa close to buildings or near drainage systems. Use drought-tolerant plants for under-planting. Magnificent tree, smothered with flowers around Christmas time in the Southern Hemisphere. Use as a specimen tree in large gardens.

How do you take care of a Metrosideros?

CARE: Well drained clay loams or sandy soil with a neutral to acid pH. Tolerates dry conditions. Prune lightly following after flowering is finished. Fertilise with native-plant fertiliser early spring and at planting.

Can you grow pohutukawa in pots?

It may be advisable to keep growing it as a large pot plant so it can be moved in and away from areas of frost each winter. Plant it in a decent sized container, and use a good quality container mix. Pohutakawa have low nutrient requirements and therefore do not require frequent fertilising.

Can you grow pohutukawa in Australia?

Mysteriously, the pōhutukawa and its myrtle cousins are no longer found in Australia. They exist all over the South Pacific, from Hawaii, to Papua New Guinea, to the Bonin Islands near Japan, to a number of sub-Antarctic islands. But the trees do not grow Down Under.

How do you prune a metrosideros?

Trim the young plants when they reach five inches tall. Trimming the young plants encourages fuller growth in the coming years. After the cuttings have taken root, repot into individual pots. Continue to repot each year as the plant outgrows its existing pot.

Can you keep pohutukawa small?

Few gardens have the space for a huge pohutukawa tree and their vigorous roots mean its important not to plant too close to buildings. However, because they respond well to pruning and trimming, pohutukawa are easily adapted to small spaces.

Can you grow pohutukawa as a hedge?

Pohutukawa. We know and love it best as a huge spreading tree, but the NZ Christmas tree will retain a shrubby habit for many years after planting and makes an attractive hedge, a godsend in coastal gardens. Although trimming will reduce flowering, pohutukawa responds to trimming with fresh bushy growth.

How long does it take to grow a pohutukawa tree?

In a very fertile environment with good moisture and plenty of room, young pohutukawa grow very quickly (at around 30cm per year in height and 5-10cm in diameter), often having quite a bushy form due to multi stems and vigorous lower stem growth, whereas older trees gain around 10cm in height a year and 2mm in diameter …