{"product_id":"midas-new-zealand-christmas-bush-metrosideros-excelsa-midas","title":"Midas New Zealand Christmas Bush - Metrosideros excelsa 'Midas'","description":"\u003cp\u003eMidas New Zealand Christmas Bush (\u003cem\u003eMetrosideros excelsa\u003c\/em\u003e '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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGold-hearted foliage.\u003c\/strong\u003e Glossy deep green leaves with a golden centre keep the plant colourful all year, flowers or not.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRed pompom flowers.\u003c\/strong\u003e White downy buds open into deep red pompoms that attract birds.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBuilt for the coast.\u003c\/strong\u003e It is salt and wind tolerant, and the parent species grows on shoreline cliff faces.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDry spells are fine.\u003c\/strong\u003e Once established it tolerates dry conditions, so it suits low-input coastal plantings.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHedge or feature tree.\u003c\/strong\u003e It clips into a tall flowering hedge or stands alone as a single tree with a broad, rounded crown.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCoastal and exposed gardens.\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTall hedging.\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant 1.2m apart in a single row. The crowns meet into a dense flowering screen, and light pruning after flowering keeps it bushy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFeature planting.\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing Midas New Zealand Christmas Bush in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e Free-draining soil. Rocky ground and salty, sandy soil suit it well.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e Water through the first summer, then it tolerates dry conditions. Feed with a native plant fertiliser at planting and again in early spring.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning.\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/metrosideros\"\u003eBrowse our NZ Christmas bush and metrosideros range\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/metrosideros-nz-christmas-bush-care-guide\"\u003eThe metrosideros care guide\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coastal-salt-tolerant-plants\"\u003eMore coastal and salt tolerant plants\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-windbreaks\"\u003ePlants for windbreaks and exposed sites\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWill Midas turn all green?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSome 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow close to the house can I plant it?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKeep it well away. The roots are tenacious and the crown is wide, so avoid planting close to buildings, paving and pipes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDoes it tolerate frost?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. Treat it as a frost free plant, best suited to mild coastal gardens. In districts with regular frost it is a poor choice.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"Tube","offer_id":67789617627455,"sku":"MET-EXC-MIDAS-tube","price":17.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/midas-new-zealand-christmas-bush-metrosideros-excelsa-midas.jpg?v=1792191059","url":"https:\/\/nurserynearme.com.au\/products\/midas-new-zealand-christmas-bush-metrosideros-excelsa-midas","provider":"Nursery Near Me","version":"1.0","type":"link"}