Metrosideros excelsa/ pohutukawa/New Zealand xmas tree

[slothtrot]

We've just got one of these, weve got an east facing garden with a fair amount of shelter and successfully have a holly (potted), acer, magnolia, willow and a couple of mountain ash. Passion flower grows well. We're in an area which does get frost but not often. The soil is apparently loamy, slightly acidic, a bit clay and not ideal drainage.

At the moment it's only small (less than 30cm) and so is in an indoor pot in my house, longer term I want to put it in a larger pot on the patio and I suppose bring it in when it's winter because of the frost unless I can protect it in the garden. I'm not an experienced gardener.

Any hints and tips would be appreciated please.

I think the pohutukawa would struggle in England tbh. It needs a lot of light and warmth. It does not even tend to do well in the South Island of NZ compared with the North Island- I associate it with the far North of NZ only.

@Otamot

I think the pohutukawa would struggle in England tbh. It needs a lot of light and warmth. It does not even tend to do well in the South Island of NZ compared with the North Island- I associate it with the far North of NZ only.

That's interesting because there were quite in a few in our part of the South Island. Still we've got it now so we'll have to crack on and see how it gets on.

Nothing to lose, eh? Near a warm house wall while it's small and lots of mulch. They do get very big though so overwintering inside obviously isn't a longterm option.

I would love you to succeed as they are probably my favourite ever tree!

Also, curious, what part of the South Island do you mean? Golden Bay is pretty sheltered and sunny, for instance, I think they thrive there, but def not in places with a more typical English climate.

@Otamot

Nothing to lose, eh? Near a warm house wall while it's small and lots of mulch. They do get very big though so overwintering inside obviously isn't a longterm option.

I would love you to succeed as they are probably my favourite ever tree!

Also, curious, what part of the South Island do you mean? Golden Bay is pretty sheltered and sunny, for instance, I think they thrive there, but def not in places with a more typical English climate.

Down on the Banks Peninsula. Most of the ones I know are in an exposed area on the coast and in an area where there is snow and frost during so I am optimistic that once it gets larger it will survive. I'm going to stop it getting too large with some careful pruning after flowering I think. I hope it succeeds but if not we've got nothing to lose - like you say.

Oh it's so beautiful there.

If I was from there I'd never leave.

@Otamot

Oh it's so beautiful there.

If I was from there I'd never leave.

I know...it's so lovely. Needs must though.

I was going to get one of these for my mother for her Christmas. Saw them when I was in NZ years ago and they're so pretty and cheerful. But we're in Scotland so it would probably struggle. She does have a small bottle brush tree which looks similar to the Pohutukawa when it matures.

It's a tree that I take a bit for granted, tbh. We live in the Far North of NZ, on the edge of a harbour, and have massive pohutukawas on a steep bank. The soil is ancient volcanic, heavy clay, stony, dry, and very hot in summer. They develop enormous, invasive roots as they age. I lived on the Norfolk coast for years, and think that the pohutukawa would struggle where we were living, near Sheringham. Having said that, they are stupendous at the moment, flowering very early, and a very vivid red. It's worth giving them a go - but don't "baby" them - I'm not an expert, but "treat 'em mean and keep 'em keen" seems a good mantra.

And just as I posted that, I remembered the biggest pohutukawa I've ever seen - absolutely enormous, and apparently many hundreds of years old. It was growing above a thermal sulfur spring in the central North Island, over 1000 f above sea level, and well inland, where the winters are brisk and frosts are frequent. Again, poor volcanic soil, but the warm water sustained it, and had done so since Henry VIII was on the throne. Perhaps that's your secret. Good luck!

That sounds lovely, I loved it up north! So wild and bleak and beautiful beaches. You're so lucky having pohutukawa nearby. The massive one sounds fantastic. I didn't realise they have invasive routes when they age. Perhaps I could buy one and see what happens!