Metrosideros ‘Little Ollie’

Metrosideros 'Little Ollie' (Metrosideros collina hybrid) is a dwarf selection of the New Zealand Christmas bush, bred down to about 1.2m tall and 1m wide so it fits a pot or a low hedge rather than a headland. Small leathery leaves sit tight on the stems, and crimson brush flowers open through the warmer months. Wind, salt and coastal exposure are what it was built for.

Why you'll love it

• Built for wind and salt. Salt, wind and drought tolerant once established, so exposed balconies do not shred it.
• Compact and slow. At about 1.2m by 1m it holds its shape for years without becoming a maintenance job.
• Crimson brush flowers. Nectar rich red flowers bring honeyeaters and native bees to the house.
• Dense leathery foliage. The small tough leaves hold right down to the base, and one light trim after flowering is the whole annual task.

Where it works best

Pots, balconies and courtyards. A 400mm to 500mm pot suits a single plant, and the slow growth means no repotting every year. This is the job it does best.

Compact hedging and edging. Plant 70cm apart in a single row for a low hedge held at around a metre. That spacing lets each plant fill out at the base rather than stretching for light, and along a path it gives a neat evergreen edge.

Coastal gardens. Put it on the exposed side of a bed where salt laden wind hits first, with softer plants behind.

Growing Metrosideros 'Little Ollie' in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun for the best flowering and the densest habit. It performs across subtropical, warm temperate and cool temperate gardens. It takes light frost only, so hard frosting inland and tableland gardens are not suitable, and young plants want shelter for two winters.

Soil. Free draining, and not fussy beyond that. Sandy coastal soil suits it well. On heavy clay, mound the bed and open it up with coarse compost, because it will not sit wet through summer.

Water and feed. Deep water twice a week through the first summer, then only in long dry spells. In a pot, water more often and never let the mix dry out. A controlled release fertiliser in early spring is enough for the year.

Pruning. Tip prune from planting to build density low down, and trim lightly after flowering so you do not remove next season's buds. Stay within leafy growth, because it is unreliable at reshooting from bare wood.

What to expect when it arrives

It is currently grown in one size, sold as tube stock: a young single stemmed plant with a well developed root system for its size. Because this is a slow growing shrub, be realistic about the timeline. Expect two to three years to reach a useful hedge or a full pot specimen.

Tubes are compact and travel well. Pot yours on into a 200mm container for a season before planting out if you want it away faster, or plant straight into a prepared bed and water through the first summer. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95, and every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse salt tolerant coastal plants
• Plants that cope with balcony conditions
• The best coastal plants for beachside gardens
• Shop plants suited to pots

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a hedge?

Seventy centimetres apart in a single row. Each plant reaches about a metre across, so the canopies overlap into a continuous low hedge without shading each other out at the base.

Will it handle a windy balcony?

Yes. Wind and salt tolerance are its strongest qualities, and the small leathery leaves do not tear the way soft foliage does. Use a heavy pot and check the water often, because wind dries a container quickly.

Can I grow it in a cold garden?

It suits cool temperate gardens but takes light frost only. Where hard frost is regular, grow it in a pot that can be moved to shelter, or choose a fully frost hardy alternative.