Pohutukawa

Sun

Full sun; tolerates light shade but flowers less freely.

Water

Water regularly while establishing; established trees tolerate dry spells. Avoid persistently wet soil.

Soil

Well-drained sandy, loamy or rocky soil; tolerates coastal soils and a fairly wide pH range.

Height

30-65 ft (9-20 m)

Spread

30-65 ft (9-20 m)

Flowers

Early to midsummer, usually June-July in the Northern Hemisphere and December-January in the Southern Hemisphere; dense clusters of scarlet-red stamens.

Foliage

Evergreen. Thick, oval, dark green leaves with densely felted, silvery-white undersides; older trees develop gnarled branches and sometimes hanging aerial roots.

Growth

Moderate; faster in warm conditions with adequate moisture.

Care needed

Medium

• Pollinators
• Drought tolerant
• Heat tolerant
• Wildlife
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Hard

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   7 ft (2 m)

2. After 1 year

   9 ft (2.8 m)

3. After 2 years

   12 ft (3.6 m)

4. After 3 years

   14 ft (4.3 m)

5. After 5 years

   19 ft (5.9 m)

About 16 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Invasive in

Australia

Growth rate

Fast

• Plant in spring after frost risk has passed, allowing room for a broad crown and extensive roots away from drains, paving and buildings.
• Water deeply during dry weather for the first two growing seasons; let the soil surface dry between waterings.
• Apply a 2-3 in (5-8 cm) mulch over the root area, keeping it clear of the trunk.
• Feed lightly in spring only if growth is poor; avoid heavy nitrogen feeding.
• Protect young trees from frost; move container plants into bright, frost-free shelter before freezing weather.

Pruning. Prune lightly just after flowering to remove dead, damaged or poorly placed branches and establish a sound framework while young. Avoid topping or repeatedly cutting back a mature crown; use a qualified arborist for large limbs.

Spring

Plant after frost risk has passed, refresh mulch and check young trees for frost damage.

Late spring

Check soil moisture around newly planted trees and begin deep watering during dry spells.

Summer

Enjoy flowering and water establishing trees during prolonged dry weather.

Late summer

After flowering, carry out light formative pruning if needed.

Autumn

Reduce watering as growth slows and prepare frost protection for young or container-grown plants.

Winter

Keep sheltered container plants bright and only slightly moist; check outdoor trees after storms.

• Use as a specimen shade tree in a large, frost-mild coastal garden.
• Plant as an informal coastal screen or windbreak where its eventual width can be accommodated.
• Underplant with New Zealand flax, lomandra and agapanthus for contrasting leaf shapes.
• Use a young container-grown tree on a sunny terrace, with provision for winter shelter and eventual larger accommodation.

Garden styles it suits: Coastal, Mediterranean, Architectural minimal, Wildlife garden, Modern tropical and Luxury resort.

Plant it with: New Zealand flax, Cabbage tree, Lomandra, Agapanthus and Rosemary.

Wildlife: Nectar-rich flowers attract bees and nectar-feeding birds. The dense evergreen crown provides shelter and potential nesting sites.

• Frost can scorch foliage and kill young shoots: choose a sheltered, mild site and protect young plants during cold spells.
• Waterlogged soil can cause root rot and decline: improve drainage before planting and avoid frequent shallow watering.
• Scale insects can cause sticky honeydew and sooty mould: inspect stems and leaf undersides, and treat small infestations with a labelled horticultural oil.
• Myrtle rust can damage soft new growth in affected regions: avoid moving suspect plants, follow local reporting advice and seek locally approved treatment.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses. Species-specific information, especially for horses, is limited; it is not an edible plant, and chewing leaves or bark may cause stomach upset.

Where it spreads. Can spread into native coastal vegetation in parts of southwestern Western Australia and South Africa's Cape region, where it is treated as invasive. Check local planting restrictions and remove unwanted seedlings.

• Northern rata (Metrosideros robusta)

  Adult leaves are generally smaller, often notched at the tip, and lack the thick white felt covering the undersides of pohutukawa leaves.

• Kermadec pohutukawa (Metrosideros kermadecensis)

  Usually has smaller, rounder leaves and flowers intermittently over a longer season rather than producing one main summer display.

• Southern rata (Metrosideros umbellata)

  Has narrower, pointed leaves with green rather than densely white-felted undersides.

Pōhutukawa is its Māori name, while Metrosideros refers to the hard, iron-like heartwood and excelsa means tall or lofty.

Propagation. Sow fresh, fine seed on the surface of a well-drained seed compost and keep warm and moist without waterlogging. Semi-ripe cuttings can be taken in summer; named cultivars need vegetative propagation to retain their characteristics.

Accepted botanical name

Metrosideros excelsa

Native range

New Zealand North.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0) and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.