Metrosideros excelsior
New Zealand Christmas tree · also Pohutukawa
Report an issue with this species
This tree is known for its striking, bright red flowers that bloom in clusters, creating a vibrant display. It has a gnarled, twisted trunk and branches, and leathery dark green leaves with a silvery underside. Well-suited to coastal areas, it is highly tolerant of salt and wind, and provides shade while attracting birds and pollinators.
Where it grows
Trees in each city's inventory, with the share of that city's named trees this species accounts for.
- 140.01%—1.9 in
No city in this list records planting dates for this species, so age is blank throughout.
Traits
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Mature height
- 40 ft
- Canopy spread
- 35 ft
- Water needs
- Low
- Drought tolerance
- High
- Wildlife value
- High
- Tolerates
- coastal, salt
- Blooms
- Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul
Trunk diameters across every city: median 1.9 in, mean 3.1 in, 90th percentile 5.6 in. Measured at breast height, as published by each inventory.
Native range
Terrestrial ecoregions where this species is native. Trees in the dataset mostly stand well outside it.
Temperate Broadleaf & Mixed Forests
- New Zealand North Island temperate forests
- New Zealand South Island temperate forests
Other Metrosideros in the catalogue
4 of the top 2,000 species are in this genus.
