Family: Myrtaceae
Common Name: New Zealand Christmas Tree, Pohutukawa

Mostly native to New Zealand and Pacific Islands, this genus consists of around 60 species of evergreen trees and shrubs, grown for their rich, dark green foliage and bright scarlet, brush-like flowers, some of which appear at Christmas in their native countries. They are very useful plants as they are salt-resistant and attract birds to the garden. In frost-prone climates, grow in a cool greenhouse or conservatory.

Species

M. carmineus is a climber with round leaves and clusters of bright red flowers.

M. excelus, New Zealand Christmas tree, is very beautiful, with its wide, spreading canopy and profusion of scarlet flowers in summer. The leaves are a shiny, deep green with white, downy undersides. It grows to around 15 m (50 ft). The cultivar 'Aureus' is a lovely, yellow-flowered form.

M. fulgens is also a climbing type but its flowers are orange-red and borne in terminal clusters. Cultivar 'Aurata' produces yellow flowers.

M. kermadecensis grows to around 12 m (40 ft), with red flowers for most of the year. Cultivar 'Variegatus' has grayish green leaves with creamy white margins. Cultivar 'Sunninghill' is another variegated form with golden yellow markings on the leaves. In New Zealand, especially, there is a wide range of named cultivars of both M. exelsus and M. kermadecensis.

Cultivation

Under glass, grow in pots of acid, soil-based potting compost. Provide maximum light, but shade from direct sun. Water normally in the growing season but reduce considerably in winter. Outdoors, grow in a sunny, sheltered spot in well-drained, acid to neutral soil. Propagate from seed in spring (do not cover with compost) or semi-ripe cuttings in summer, both with basal warmth.

Climate

Warmest parts of zone 9, or zone 10.