Metrosideros tomentosa 'Pōhutukawa'

The pohutukawa (Metrosideros excelsa, still widely sold as M. tomentosa) is the tree to plant where nothing else will take the salt. In a garden it settles at about 8m tall with a broad 6m crown, far short of the 20m specimens clinging to New Zealand headlands. Scarlet brush flowers cover the canopy in early summer, above grey-green leaves with felted white undersides.

Why you'll love it

• Summer flowers in bright red. The crown fills with scarlet stamens for weeks, and nectar birds and bees work it the whole time.
• It genuinely belongs on the coast. Salt tolerant, wind tolerant and drought tolerant once established, so a front line beach block does not faze it.
• A wide, low shade crown. The habit is spreading rather than upright, which throws more usable shade than a narrow tree of the same height.
• Slow and undemanding. It grows slowly, so it stays in scale for years and asks for very little pruning or feeding.

Where it works best

Coastal gardens. This is its natural job. Salt spray, sand and onshore wind are the conditions it evolved in, and it holds foliage where other trees burn off on the exposed side.

Shade tree and feature. Allow a clear 6m for the crown and keep it away from paving and pipes, because it develops a wide, shallow root plate. Given room, a single specimen is the whole design for a front garden.

Windbreak. Planted in a group at 4m to 5m spacing it makes a solid shelter belt for an exposed block, filtering wind before it reaches the house.

Growing pohutukawa in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, and the more exposure the better. It suits subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens. It takes light frost only, so young plants in cold inland districts and on the tablelands need shelter, and hard frosting gardens should choose something else.

Soil. Free draining soil, including poor coastal sand, which it handles better than most trees. It will not accept waterlogging, so on clay plant high on a mound and improve the surrounding bed.

Water and feed. Deep soak weekly through the first two summers while the root plate develops, then only in long dry spells. A general purpose slow release fertiliser in early spring is enough.

Pruning. It takes pruning well and can be shaped or even hedged in a coastal setting. Because it grows slowly, do your shaping early and lift the lower branches gradually rather than removing large limbs later.

What to expect when it arrives

It is offered in one size, a 45L pot. That is an established plant with a formed head rather than a young whip, so you start with a real tree and a season or two of growing already behind you. Expect it to settle quietly for a few months while the roots move into the surrounding soil.

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

• Coastal and salt tolerant plants
• The best plants for coastal gardeners
• How to plan a coastal feature garden
• Browse flowering trees

Common questions

How fast does it grow?

Slowly, which is part of the appeal in a small garden. Expect modest height each year rather than a metre, and fifteen years or more to approach 8m.

When will it flower?

Flowering comes in early summer, and young trees often take several years before they put on a full display. Full sun and a lean, well drained soil bring flowers on sooner than a rich, heavily fed bed.

Can I plant it near a pool or a path?

Near a pool, yes, given room for the crown. Close to paths, driveways and pipes, no: the shallow spreading roots lift hard surfaces over time, so give it several metres of clearance.