| Metrosideros is the botanical name for a genus of | | | | With which trees and bushes does the New |
| landscape trees and large shrubs known | | | | Zealand Christmas tree associate comfortably? Its |
| commonly by its Maori name as Pohutukawa, or | | | | oval-shaped foliage is medium in size and texture |
| New Zealand Christmas Tree. As a large | | | | and so it fits in well with landscape bushes with |
| evergreen plant, it is ideal for screening purposes, | | | | similar foliage such as Pittosporum and Viburnum. |
| but is also highly ornamental with its fine form, | | | | It is especially good with another New Zealand |
| attractive, leathery foliage, and showy annual | | | | native - Coprosma repens whose varieties that |
| flowers. | | | | have variegated or copper leaves, add a gentle |
| Pohutukawa is relatively drought tolerant, thriving | | | | contrast to the light-green foliage of the |
| on as little as 200mm (8in) of additional irrigation in | | | | Metrosideros. |
| near desert climates that receive no more than | | | | Thought should also be given to how the plant |
| 250mm of rainfall a year. In semi arid | | | | combines with trees that are larger than it is, and |
| Mediterranean climates that receive some 400mm | | | | with low-growing shrubs as well. With this in mind, |
| (16in) of annual rainfall, it can get by on less | | | | it combines superbly with tall Eucalypts and with |
| water, but will look better for the occasional deep | | | | small bushes such as Green Island Ficus, Dwarf |
| soaking in the summer. | | | | Pittosporum, ("Wheeler's Dwarf") and Raphiolepis. |
| It is also tolerant of wind and sea spray, is largely | | | | Pohutukawa, as a member of the Myrtle plant |
| unaffected by pests and disease, although it is | | | | family, (Myrtaceae) has flowers with the |
| unsuited to areas that have prolonged frosts and | | | | prominent stamens typical of that botanical family. |
| chill. Metrosideros grows well in most soils, including | | | | Therefore, it links up with other Myrtaceae plants |
| the alkaline ones typical of many dry climates, | | | | like Syzygium, Myrtle, Acmena, and Callistemon. |
| providing there is reasonable drainage. It is not a | | | | Metrosideros is so attractive and useful as a |
| plant for the impatient however, as it grows | | | | screening plant, and is so adaptable to the arid |
| slowly during the first few years. The patient | | | | conditions prevailing in Mediterranean climates |
| gardener however will be rewarded with a | | | | (excluding very cold areas) that dry climate |
| beautiful and dependable landscape plant. | | | | gardeners can hardly afford to ignore it. |
| Combinations and Associations | | | | |