Pōhutukawa

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iPōhutukawa

Pōhutukawa flowers

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Myrtales
Family:	Myrtaceae
Genus:	Metrosideros
Species:	M. excelsa

Binomial name

Metrosideros excelsa
Gaertn.

Also known as New Zealand Christmas Tree or Fire Tree, the Māori named Pōhutukawa (Metrosideros excelsa, synonym Metrosideros tomentosa) is an evergreen tree of the myrtle family that produces flowers made up of a mass of red stamens (sometimes yellow). It is native to coastal regions of the northern North Island of New Zealand.

Pōhutukawa grow up to 20 metres, with a fairly large round canopy. They flower from November to January with a peak in mid to late December (the southern hemisphere summer), with a brilliant crimson flower covering the canopy, hence their nickname. Larger specimens typically have aerial roots which support a spreading canopy.

The giant Pōhutukawa in Te Araroa on the East Coast is reputed to be the largest in the country, but fine examples can be found in just about any North Island coastal city.

The variety "Aurea", which has yellow flowers, is descended from a pair discovered in 1940 on Mōtiti Island in the Bay of Plenty.

In New Zealand, Pōhutukawa are under threat due to browsing by the common brushtail possum introduced from Australia.

Pōhutukawa were introduced to coastal California, where they are a popular street and lawn tree; San Francisco's Friends of the Urban Forest estimates that it is the third-most-commonly planted street tree in San Francisco over the last two decades.