Metrosideros collina ‘Springfire’

Springfire Metrosideros (Metrosideros collina 'Springfire') is the flowering hedge to reach for on a salt exposed block. It forms a dense evergreen shrub to about 3m tall and 2.5m wide, covered in bright red brush flowers through spring and summer, and it takes wind, salt spray and heat without burning.

Why you'll love it

• Red flowers on a working hedge. Most screening plants are green and nothing else. This one gives months of crimson brushes while still holding a boundary.
• Built for the coast. Salt tolerant, wind tolerant, heat tolerant and drought tolerant once established, so a front line coastal position does not shred it.
• Small leaves, tight growth. The fine dark foliage clips cleanly and holds density down low, which is what separates a real hedge from a row of shrubs.
• Birds and bees arrive. The nectar rich flowers pull in honeyeaters, native bees and butterflies through the warm months.

Where it works best

Hedging and screening. Plant 1m apart for a dense hedge. At that spacing it closes into a solid screen of 2m to 3m over three seasons, and it responds well to being held lower.

Coastal gardens and windbreaks. It will stand in the front row of an exposed seaside garden. For a windbreak, a staggered double row at 1m filters wind rather than blocking it.

Feature planting and pots. A single plant clips neatly into a ball or standard, and in a pot 500mm or wider it stays near 1.5m and still flowers.

Growing Springfire Metrosideros in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun for the heaviest flowering; part shade gives a looser plant and fewer blooms. This is a plant for tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens, and it takes light frost only.

Soil. Free draining is the priority, and sandy coastal soils suit it well. On clay, plant on a raised mound with compost worked through, and mulch 75mm deep kept clear of the stem.

Water and feed. Deep soak twice a week through the first summer, then taper off as it becomes genuinely drought tolerant. Feed a controlled release fertiliser in early spring, and go easy on nitrogen, which gives leaf at the cost of flower.

Pruning. Trim straight after the main flowering finishes, since the buds form on new wood made over summer. Tip prune from planting to build density, then one or two shaping cuts a year keeps a hedge sharp.

What to expect when it arrives

It comes in 200mm pots, sold in packs of six, and as single 45L plants. The 200mm size is the sensible buy for a hedge run, six plants covering about 6m. The 45L plants are already bushy and carry real height on day one.

Plants are packed to travel upright, and a little leaf drop in transit is normal. Expect a quiet month after planting, then new growth in the first warm spell. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Choosing plants for a coastal garden.
• Compare other hedging and screening plants.
• Browse the full salt tolerant range.
• See more bird attracting plants.

Common questions

How far apart should I plant a hedge?

One metre apart in a single row. Tighter spacing crowds the roots without closing the screen any sooner.

Will it survive frost?

Light frost only, once established. In cold inland or southern gardens grow it in a pot and move it under cover for winter, or pick a frost hardy hedge instead.

When does it flower, and how do I keep it flowering?

Red brushes appear through spring and into summer, with lighter repeat flushes after that. Prune immediately after the main flush, because a late trim removes the wood next season's buds form on.

Can I keep it at 1.5m?

Yes. Two trims a year hold it between 1.5m and 2m, and the fine twiggy growth stays furnished at the base rather than lifting into bare stems.