Midas New Zealand Christmas Bush

Midas New Zealand Christmas Bush (Metrosideros excelsa 'Midas') is a variegated coastal tree with deep green leaves, each with a golden heart, and deep red pompom flowers. It grows to about 3m tall and 2m to 3m wide in a broad, rounded crown. Salt, wind and rocky soil suit it, which makes it a strong choice for exposed seaside sites.

Why you'll love it

• Gold-hearted foliage. Glossy deep green leaves with a golden centre keep the plant colourful all year, flowers or not.
• Red pompom flowers. White downy buds open into deep red pompoms that attract birds.
• Built for the coast. It is salt and wind tolerant, and the parent species grows on shoreline cliff faces.
• Dry spells are fine. Once established it tolerates dry conditions, so it suits low-input coastal plantings.
• Hedge or feature tree. It clips into a tall flowering hedge or stands alone as a single tree with a broad, rounded crown.

Where it works best

Coastal and exposed gardens. Rocky, sandy or salty soil and strong wind suit it. Put it in full sun and let it take the weather that burns other plants.

Tall hedging. Plant 1.2m apart in a single row. The crowns meet into a dense flowering screen, and light pruning after flowering keeps it bushy.

Feature planting. Give a single tree at least 3m of clear space. Its roots are tenacious and its crown wide, so keep it well away from buildings, paving and pipes.

Growing Midas New Zealand Christmas Bush in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the richest foliage colour and the most flowers, though it tolerates part shade. It needs a frost free position, so it suits coastal subtropical and warm temperate gardens. Where frost is regular, choose something else.

Soil. Free-draining soil. Rocky ground and salty, sandy soil suit it well.

Water and feed. Water through the first summer, then it tolerates dry conditions. Feed with a native plant fertiliser at planting and again in early spring.

Pruning. Prune lightly after flowering to shape the plant, keep it bushy and prevent reversion. Midas can revert to all green on some stems. When you see one, cut it back to the main branch where it emerges.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Midas New Zealand Christmas Bush as tube stock only. A tube is a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly once its roots meet garden soil. This is a plant for the long view: expect a small, upright plant on arrival, not an instant hedge, and expect the crown to broaden over the seasons that follow.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse our NZ Christmas bush and metrosideros range
• The metrosideros care guide
• More coastal and salt tolerant plants
• Plants for windbreaks and exposed sites

Common questions

Will Midas turn all green?

Some stems can revert to plain green. Cut any reverted stem back to the main branch where it emerges, and the golden-hearted growth carries on.

How close to the house can I plant it?

Keep it well away. The roots are tenacious and the crown is wide, so avoid planting close to buildings, paving and pipes.

Does it tolerate frost?

No. Treat it as a frost free plant, best suited to mild coastal gardens. In districts with regular frost it is a poor choice.