The Pohutukawa is Metrosideros excelsa and is one of many in a genus represented throughout New Zealand ranging from forest giants and vigorous climbers to small shrubs. Metrosideros is from the Greek and means ironwood alluding to the hardness of the timber and excelsa is Latin and means tall or high. The name Pohutukawa is a Maori word meaning ‘drenched with mist’.

In its native habitat the Pohutukawa is a large tree sometimes attaining 25m. In the suburb of Parnell in Auckland, New Zealand, there is a venerable old tree planted in 1800 which has a diameter of about 4m and would dwarf an oak tree. When they reach this age and size the tree often produces masses of reddish fibrous rootlets that hang in curtains. This reveals the fact that many in this genus are epiphytic and are similar to our Strangler Figs of northern rainforests, sometimes starting life as a seedling high up in another tree’s canopy and sending down aerial roots which after many years strangle the host tree.

Although a large tree normally, Metrosideros excelsa also responds well to pruning and can be hedged or topiarised. The leaves are 6-8cm long and are dark green on top and silvery white beneath. The flower buds are also a silvery white and look most attractive against the dark green. This tree can often be found lining the northern beaches of New Zealand and indeed oysters have been found clinging to the lower branches which are submerged at high tide!

As you may have guessed this is a coastal plant which means it hates frost. If you want to try growing it in a frosty area, you will have to provide the young plant with a sheltered warm microclimate until it is big enough to be above the frost level.

Metrosideros excelsa is so popular that many cultivars are now available. These include ‘Fire Mountain’ and ‘Parnell’ with red flowers, ‘Moon Maiden’ which has yellow flowers, ‘Pink Lady’ which has pink flowers and ‘Scarlet Pimpernel’ which (dare I say it) has scarlet flowers!

There are also many variegated forms of the Metrosideros genus around but there appears to be some confusion as to their exact parentage. The one most commonly seen in Australia is Metrosideros kermadecensis variegata. This tree is from the Kermadec Islands off the north-east coast of New Zealand and is a smaller tree with brighter red flowers. Its variegation is a creamy-yellow irregular margin with a green centre. If you really like variegated plants look out also for ‘Gala’ which is the reverse of the aforementioned having a golden middle with a green margin. There is also ‘Midas’ with gold variegation and a reddish tinge to the juvenile stems. Many variegated forms can be prone to reversion, that is they occasionally sport branches with all-green leaves. If this happens simply cut off the offending branch.

The Metrosideros genus also occurs on the islands of Hawaii and some of these plants have been available here for the last 15 years or so and are variously known as Metrosideros collina var. villosa or ‘Springfire’ but probably should be known as Metrosideros collina ‘Thomasii’. If you have this in your garden you can distinguish it from the Pohutukawa because of the wavy edge to the leaves and the fact that its orangey-red flowers appear in spring.

In Australia Metrosideros excelsa has been planted in many coastal locations where it does so well. If you are in Victoria in Apollo Bay, Dromana or Sorrento this summer - look out for the eye-catching crimson flowers with the honeyeaters vying with the bees for the sweet nectar.

My thanks to Clive Larkman from Larkman’s Nurseries for his help with this article.