Variegated New Zealand Christmas Tree

The variegated New Zealand Christmas tree (Metrosideros excelsa 'Variegata') earns its place in every season, not just the one it is named for. Each leathery leaf is deep green with a broad creamy white margin, and in summer it carries the crimson stamen flowers the species is famous for. Left alone it builds into a broad headed tree of about 6m tall and 4m wide.

Why you'll love it

• Colour that does not wait for flowering. The cream margins hold all year, lifting a dark corner in the eleven months it is not in bloom.
• Crimson summer flowers full of birds. Dense brushes of red stamens open through summer, and honeyeaters work them from first light.
• Genuinely coastal. Salt tolerant and wind tolerant, so it holds an exposed block where other ornamentals shred and brown off.
• Hedge it or let it go. Planted 2m apart and clipped it makes a thick screen; unpruned it becomes a spreading shade tree with a handsome grey trunk. Drought tolerant either way.

Where it works best

Coastal gardens. This is the job it was built for: salt spray, sandy soil and constant wind straight off the water.

Screening, hedging and windbreaks. Plant 2m apart in a single row, or a staggered double row along an exposed boundary. The canopies knit into a solid screen, and the variegation still gets enough light to stay bright.

Feature planting. As a single specimen in a lawn or courtyard, the pale foliage does the work of a flowering shrub all year.

Growing the variegated New Zealand Christmas tree in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun. Variegated foliage needs strong light to hold its contrast; in shade the cream fades toward green. It suits warm temperate, subtropical, cool temperate and mediterranean gardens. It takes light frost only, so hard frosting inland districts are marginal.

Soil. Drainage matters more than fertility. On heavy clay, plant on a raised mound and work compost through the bed first. Mulch 75mm deep, clear of the trunk.

Water and feed. Deep soak weekly through the first summer, then step it back. Once the roots are down it is drought tolerant, and a controlled release fertiliser in early spring is all it asks for. Overfeeding costs you flowers.

Pruning. Prune straight after flowering, because next summer's buds form on the growth that follows.

What to expect when it arrives

This one is grown in 200mm pots and sold as a pack of six, the practical way to buy it for a hedge. Plants are propagated from cuttings so the variegation comes true, and each arrives with a full root system. Variegated forms grow more slowly than the plain green species, so expect steady rather than rapid progress at first.

Plants are packed to travel upright and delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the full range of trees
• Compare other flowering trees
• Hedging and screening plants for exposed sites
• Preparing a new garden bed before planting

Common questions

Does it only grow near the beach?

No. Coastal exposure is what it tolerates, not what it requires. It grows just as well in an inland warm temperate or mediterranean garden, provided the drainage is good and winter frosts stay light.

Can I keep it smaller than 6m?

Yes. Left alone it settles at about 6m tall and 4m wide, but it reshoots readily from old wood, so it takes clipping as a hedge or a hard reduction if it gets away. Make the cut straight after flowering and it will still carry its next crop of buds.

Why are some new shoots plain green?

Variegated plants occasionally throw a reverted shoot with no cream margin. Cut it out flush at its origin as soon as you see it, because green growth grows faster and will take over if left.