Metrosideros excelsus

Sunset

Metrosideros excelsus

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Zones 16, 17, 23-25, H1, H2

Full, Partial

Moderate

New Zealand Christmas Tree
Myrtaceae
Evergreen, Trees

METROSIDEROS

Grown for attractive, leathery foliage and showy flowers with prominent stamens. Best near coast, where it tolerates wind, salt spray. Grow in well-drained soil. Sensitive to frost.

Metrosideros excelsus

Native to New Zealand. To 30 ft. tall or more, spreading as wide as tall; prune lower branches to get tree form. On young plants, leaves are glossy green; on older ones, they are dark green above, white and woolly beneath. Big clusters of dark red flowers cover branch ends in late spring and early summer. (Bloom occurs in December in New Zealand, hence common name “New Zealand Christmas tree.”) Useful lawn or street tree (if given ample root space) in coastal gardens.

‘Aurea’ has yellow flowers.

Leaves of ‘Gala’ are centered with bright yellow; its dark red flowers have stamens tipped with gold.