Thomas's Pohutukawa

Thomas's Pohutukawa (Metrosideros excelsa 'Thomasii') is the compact form of the New Zealand Christmas tree, and it is the one that actually fits an Australian backyard. Instead of the 15m giant seen on coastal headlands, this selection settles at about 4m tall and 3m wide, holding dense dark green leaves with felted grey undersides and covering itself in crimson bottlebrush flowers over summer. It is slow and steady rather than rampant, which is exactly what you want in a small garden. Salt, wind and drought barely register once it is established.

Why you'll love it

• Built for the coast. Salt spray and constant onshore wind are its natural conditions, so front boundaries and exposed blocks suit it where softer plants burn off.
• A summer flowering season worth waiting for. Brush shaped red flowers cover the canopy through the warmest months and honeyeaters work them all day.
• Small enough to plant near the house. At 4m by 3m it sits comfortably in a courtyard or a narrow side garden, unlike the full sized species.
• Hedge it or grow it as a tree. It takes clipping well, so the same plant can be a 2m screen or a single shapely specimen.
• Very little to do. Drought tolerant once away, undemanding about soil, and it does not drop enough litter to be a nuisance beside a pool.

Where it works best

Coastal gardens and front boundaries. This is the job it was selected for. Plant it in the first line of defence against salt wind and let it filter the weather for softer plants behind.

Screening and hedging. Plant 1.5m apart in a single row for a dense coastal screen. Because it grows slowly the screen takes three to four seasons to close, but it stays where you put it afterwards rather than needing constant control.

Poolside planting. Leathery leaves, tolerance of reflected heat and no invasive habit make it a safe choice near paving and pool edges.

Feature planting. A single plant develops a broad rounded head and looks deliberate in a lawn, a courtyard or a large pot on a paved terrace.

Growing Thomas's Pohutukawa in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the heaviest flowering; part shade is tolerated but the canopy opens up and flowers thin out. It suits subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate and mediterranean gardens, which covers most of coastal Australia. It handles light frost only, so hard frosting inland districts and the tablelands are a stretch.

Soil. Free draining is the one real requirement. Sandy coastal soil is ideal. On clay, plant on a raised mound with compost worked through, because wet stagnant roots are the most common cause of failure.

Water and feed. Water deeply once or twice a week through the first two summers, then only in extended dry spells. Feed lightly in early spring with a controlled release fertiliser. Overfeeding produces soft growth and fewer flowers.

Pruning. Prune straight after flowering finishes in late summer, which is when next season's buds are set. Tip prune from a young age for a hedge, or lift the lower branches gradually if you want a small tree with a clear trunk.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in tube, 300mm and 45L sizes. Tube stock is young and single stemmed, and it is the value option for a long coastal boundary where you are planting a dozen or more. The 300mm pot is the everyday choice, already branched and ready to shape. The 45L arrives as an established plant with real height and structure, worth it where you need presence immediately or only need one or two.

Expect slow, deliberate growth rather than a rush; this is a plant that spends its first year building roots. Flowering usually begins from the third summer on smaller sizes and sooner on advanced stock. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Compare hedging and screening plants
• Browse small trees for Australian gardens
• Add scent to a coastal garden bed
• How to prepare a new garden bed

Common questions

How is it different from a normal pohutukawa?

Size and pace. The species grows to 15m or more and needs a park. 'Thomasii' is a compact, slower growing selection that holds around 4m tall and 3m wide, so it works as a garden tree or a clipped hedge.

How far apart do I plant it for a hedge?

One and a half metres apart in a single row. Closer planting does not close the gap any faster on a slow grower and simply crowds the roots.

Will it flower away from the coast?

Yes, provided it gets full sun and free draining soil. Coastal conditions are what it tolerates, not what it requires. Inland gardens with hard winter frosts are the limitation, not distance from the sea.

Does it have invasive roots?

Not at this size. The full sized species can lift paving over decades, but a 4m compact form near a path or pool is a reasonable proposition. Keep it a couple of metres clear of drains as you would with any tree.