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Home , Metrosideros, Metrosideros bartlettii, Metrosideros carminea, Metrosideros colensoi, Metrosideros collina, Metrosideros diffusa

Metrosideros in cultivation: Ra¯ta¯ and other species The second of a two-part series

Murray Dawson1, Jack Hobbs2, Graeme Platt3 and Jim Rumbal4

Part One of this series provided an introduction to Jim Rumbal has uncovered of Jim Rumbals’) may have given a species and and traced some additional information on to his parents who had a beach origins for two species the po¯hutukawa plantings on the bach at Ohope at that time. It may – M. excelsaa (po¯hutukawa or Waitara River bank, Taranaki. As have been this plant that gave rise to Christmas ) and documented in Part One, selections the cultivar name. from these early plantings were M. kermadecensis (the Kermadec M. excelsaa ‘Exotica’: made by the late Felix Jury and po¯hutukawa). for completeness we should mention gave rise to M. excelsaa ‘Fire M. excelsa ‘Exotica’, an early This second article updates Mountain’ and M. excelsaa ‘Scarlet and illegitimate name “someone information on po¯hutukawa and traces Pimpernel’. Blair Hortor, a long- has put on the reverse form [of cultivar origins for the remaining retired groundsman and gardener M. excelsaa ‘Variegata’]” (Davies, species – the ra¯ta¯ and and of the former Waitara Borough 1968). This selection was not widely cultivars of non-New Zealand species. Council (now the offered under this name. Other District Council), clearly recalls reverse-variegated po¯hutukawa that these early plantings came include M. excelsa ‘Centennial’ and Po¯hutukawa updates from Duncan & Davies nursery M. excelsaa ‘’. In Part One we mentioned and not from a Palmerston North naturalisations of M. excelsaa and Nursery as suggested in Part One. M. excelsaa ‘Mini Christmas’: M. kermadecensiss in other countries. According to Blair (pers. comm.), all since Part One of this article was Both species are also on Norfolk of the plantings in Waitara during published, Murray Dawson has Island, where M. excelsaa may be his long tenure came from Duncan uncovered Australian records of a starting to naturalise (de Lange et al., & Davies nursery. Some of these cultivar named M. ‘Mini Christmas’ 2005) and M. kermadecensiss has have vibrant orange-scarlet fl owers, (and M. ‘Mini Xmas’). This low naturalised (Green, 1994). Graeme as exemplifi ed by M. excelsaa ‘Fire growing cultivar is said to attain 1 m Platt has seen M. kermadecensiss well Mountain’. Jim Rumbal is of the tall (Curia online catalogue, established at Ball Bay, , opinion that orangey fl ower colours 2010) and is almost certainly a where Green (1994) also recorded it. may possibly have arisen through selection of M. excelsa. hybridisation between the usual red- M. excelsa ‘Octopussy’: The expedition to date the fl owered M. excelsaa and the yellow- another new po¯hutukawa cultivar po¯hutukawa growing at La Coruña in fl owered M. excelsaa ‘Aurea’. Spain has been postponed from late has come to light. This cultivar, 2010 to probably mid 2011 (Jonathan We can now confi rm that the named M. excelsaa ‘Octopussy’, has Palmer, pers. comm.). We await the variegated selection M. excelsa a distinctive weeping to spreading dating results from the forthcoming ‘Ohope’ was named after Ohope growth habit. It arose as an open tree ring counts with interest. Beach near Whakatane. This is pollinated seedling at the Naturally possibly another selection made Native NZ Plants nursery Since publication of the fi rst part of by Duncan & Davies nursery. Jim in 2004. Although the original this article, Lawrie Metcalf informs us Rumbal has been assessing it for plant died, propagation material is that the mature amenity trees of the many years, and considers the thin maintained through cuttings. It is yellow-fl owered M. excelsaa ‘Aurea’ white variegated margin to be quite estimated that this cultivar will grow growing at Sumner, , attractive although the selection to 1.5–3 m tall and some plants were planted by the late Maurice John is not particularly vigorous. Only a are also being sold as standards Barnett (Superintendent of Parks and few were propagated at Duncan & (Esmé Dean, pers. comm.). Reserves, then Director of Botanic Davies nursery. Michael Sheerin New Zealand Plant Variety Rights Gardens, Parks and Reserves, (an employee of Duncan & Davies has been applied for (Serra Kilduff, Christchurch) probably in the 1950s. nursery and former work colleague pers. comm.).

Landcare Research, PO Box 40, Lincoln 7640, New Zealand; [email protected] 2 Auckland Regional Botanic Gardens, 102 Hill Road, Manurewa, Auckland, New Zealand; [email protected] 3 New Zealand Botanical Institute, PO Box 302084, North Harbour, Auckland, New Zealand 4 Matarikoriko Road, Waitara, New Zealand

10 New Zealand Garden Journal, 2010, Vol. 13(2) M. excelsa ‘White Caps’: north and John Dawson named it ground in sunny sites, often where Graeme Platt recently selected and after him when formally describing it a forest has been destroyed by fi re. named a white-fl owered po¯hutukawa. as a new species (Dawson, 1985). Northern ra¯ta¯ that establishes on He discovered it at Piha Beach, M. bartlettiii is probably a specialised the ground may not become as tall west of Auckland City, during late epiphyte under most circumstances as those that are initially epiphytic December 2009. The parent tree was in the wild but eventually grows into (John Dawson, pers. comm.). The found planted in a reserve where it is an independent tree (John Dawson, leaves of M. robustaa are up to 5 cm thriving. It is a vigorous and healthy pers. comm.). It has distinctive or more long and crimson fl owers tree regardless of its unusual white whitish, tissue-paper like bark and appear mainly from November to fl owers (Fig. 1A–B). The aerial dark green leaves up to 5 cm long in January (Fig. 3A–B). This species running down the trunk have white a dense canopy, with masses of small occurs naturally on the Three Kings tips (instead of the usual reddish- white fl owers in October to November. Islands, is scattered throughout the brown colour) that mirror the lack of where it used to be The conservation status of M. bartlettii pigmentation of its fl owers. M. excelsa more widespread, and is abundant is ‘Nationally Critical’ as it is only ‘White Caps’ is named after its fl ower in the in North-West known from 29 adult plants in the wild colour and the sea wind blowing Nelson and Westland south to near (de Lange et al., 2010; New Zealand the tops of waves into whitecaps. It Greymouth (Allan, 1961; Simpson, Plant Conservation Network website, is currently under propagation with 2005). 2010). the purpose of introducing it into wider cultivation. Denis Hughes of Although its natural habitat is swampy Blue Mountain Nurseries was the ground, M. bartlettiii also grows well fi rst person to collect cuttings off the in average garden conditions in parent tree for commercial production. Auckland (Fig. 2A–B; Hobbs, 1992; Anon., 2001b). Graeme Platt believes that it has considerable potential as a street tree and that it may be more cold tolerant than most M. excelsa selections. Considering its rarity in the wild, this species should be grown more widely and is available from specialist native plant nurseries (e.g., Gaddum, 1997, 1999a, 1999b, 2001).

A A A

B B Fig. 3 . A, botanical Fig. 1 ‘White Caps’. illustration (then as M. fl orida) in Curtis’s A, tree in fl ower. B, close-up of fl owers. B Botanical Magazine, London, Vol. 75 Photos: Graeme Platt. Fig. 2 . A, tree in (= Ser. 3, Vol. 5): Tab. 4471, 1849. Image fl ower. Photo: Jack Hobbs. B, close-up of courtesy Missouri Botanical Garden, www. fl owers. Photo: Naturally Native NZ Plants. botanicus.org. B, plant in fl ower. Photo: Ra¯ta¯ trees ©Paul Ashford, www.NZPlantPics.com. Metrosideross robusta Metrosideross bartlettii M. robustaa is commonly available (northern ra¯ta¯) (Bartlett’s ra¯ta¯) through the nursery trade. Although In relatively undisturbed forest, Incredibly, this large tree (which not as wind hardy as M. excelsa, northern ra¯ta¯ is a specialised epiphyte can attain 25 m in height) escaped M. robustaa is more cold tolerant and can become a tall upright tree to notice until 1977 when the late John (Bannister, 1990) and makes an 30 m. Like other specialised epiphytic Bartlett discovered it. Bartlett found excellent specimen tree with an Metrosideros, it can also grow on the it at Radar Bush, Te Paki, in the far upright growth habit for an exposed

New Zealand Garden Journal, 2010, Vol. 13(2) 11 site. When fully mature, M. robusta Metrosideross umbellata Stockton Plateau in an area called the is a large tree in the wild, but it (southern ra¯ta¯) ‘burning mine’, an historic abandoned grows slowly and can be managed This or small tree grows to coal mine that has been on fi re since in cultivation where it takes several 15 m or more and like other ra¯ta¯ trees the early 1900s. The original plant years to fl ower when raised from can start life as an epiphyte (John was noticed because of its round seed. A few selections have been Dawson, pers. comm.). It has narrow squat shape and very short internodal made from this species: pointed leaves to 6 cm or more long growth. The leaves are slightly smaller and masses of small, usually red, than is typical for the species and M. robusta ‘Kawa Copper’: a new fl owers occurring sporadically from it produces bright crimson fl owers. cultivar that arose in 2001 from a November to March. It is found mainly The parent plant was successfully batch of otherwise uniform seedlings in high rainfall, lowland to montane, propagated by cuttings in 1994. Many raised by Deane Keir (pers. comm.). It sometimes subalpine forests and plants were sold by Deane Keir as was selected for its unique form and shrubland of the South Island (west growing-on lines to various wholesale foliage colour. It has a bushy stocky of the Main Divide), Stewart Island, nurseries around New Zealand habit that can be trimmed. Mature and the Auckland Islands south between 1994 and 1998. leaves are dark green and shiny of New Zealand. On the Auckland but the commercial potential of this M. umbellataa ‘Firecracker’: Islands it is the dominant tree in low selection lies in its attractive coppery- selected in about 1995 by Jeff coastal forest, whereas in the North red-coloured new growth. This new Elliott, of Elliott’s Wholesale Nursery, Island it is rather uncommon and growth is reminiscent of Photiniaa ‘Red Amberley, from a plant growing wild restricted to a few montane areas Robin’ and M. robusta ‘Kawa Copper’ at Whanganui Inlet, North-West (Allan, 1961; Simpson, 2005). It is not will be suitable as a hedging plant in Nelson. This selection has dark green on Campbell or the Snares islands a similar way to Photinia. M. robusta leaves and a compact growth habit even though Allan (1961) says it is ‘Kawa Copper’ is cold hardy and that forms a bun-shaped plant. It has (John Dawson, pers. comm.). fl owers are expected to be dark red. medium-sized deep-red fl owers and It has been successfully propagated In cultivation southern ra¯ta¯ is relatively blooms heavily during November and through cuttings and is currently on slow growing, has attractive dense December. M. umbellata ‘Firecracker’ trial at the Naturally Native NZ Plants foliage, and makes an excellent shrub has been available since about 2005 nursery at Tauranga. This selection and specimen tree. Plants can take (Jeff Elliott, pers. comm.). is not yet available to the public and many years to fl ower when grown M. umbellataa ‘Harlequin’: is subject to a New Zealand Plant from seed (Metcalf, 1987, 2000). found in the early to mid-1980s in Variety Rights (PVR) application M. umbellata is best suited for the wild as a variegated branch sport (NZPVR Journal, No. 119, 14 October growing in cool-climate gardens with by Joe Cartman (pers. comm.) of 2009). moist rather than the warm Christchurch. He found the variegated M. robustaa ‘Krinkley’: a cultivar with and humid gardens of Auckland and side-branch on a fully mature tree on unusual twisted leaves that are dark many North Island areas. Several the roadside near Nugget Point in the green with a bright creamy-yellow cultivars have been named and Catlins and successfully propagated central variegation held on bright red they are slower growing and more it from cuttings. Leaves are glossy young stems (Fig. 4). This reverse- diffi cult to propagate than M. excelsa. green with conspicuous variegated variegated cultivar was fi rst published For these reasons, M. umbellata yellow margins (Fig. 5). This cultivar under the name M. ‘Krinkley’ (Hobbs, cultivars are produced and sold in had PVR protection from 1992 to 1992) which, although never sold smaller quantities in New Zealand 2009. as that, takes priority. It was fi rst and their origins have not been as marketed by Duncan & Davies well documented. M. umbellataa is nursery in 1996 under the name successfully grown in milder parts of M. robusta ‘Tane’s Gold’ (e.g., Plantlife the UK where there is good potential Propagators online catalogue, to export and market further cultivars. 2010) and is also currently sold as M. umbellataa ‘Christmas Dream’ M. ‘Twistie’ (e.g., Lyndale Nurseries and M. umbellataa ‘St Nicholas’: online catalogue, 2010). two selections made by Denis Hughes (pers. comm.) and named by the late Margaret Hughes of Blue Mountain Nurseries, Tapanui. Both Fig. 5 ‘Harlequin’. were selected from trees growing Photo: Chris Barnaby. wild at Lake Manapouri, Fiordland, in M. umbellata ‘Gold Nugget’: the late 1970s. They both have good also raised by plantsman Joe red fl o w er colours and are so named Cartman. It arose around 1992 because they fl ower at Christmas as a branch sport of M. umbellata time. ‘Harlequin’ (Joe Cartman, M. umbellataa ‘Fireball’: pers. comm.). This cultivar has Fig. 4 Metrosideros robusta ‘Krinkley’, a discovered in 1993 by Deane Keir golden-yellow new leaves with a thin cultivar with variegated and twisted leaves. (pers. comm.) growing on the red edge (Fig. 6). The gold colour Photo: Lyndale Nurseries.

12 New Zealand Garden Journal, 2010, Vol. 13(2) of these leaves persists for many plant growing at Mt Augustus on the M. umbellataa orange form: months and the old leaves are the Stockton Plateau by an abandoned in January 1973, Dr Brian Molloy standard green colour. M. umbellata coal mine. The nursery has spelt the (pers. comm.) discovered an orange- ‘Gold Nugget’ has PVR protection cultivar “M. ‘Mt Augusta’” but it should fl owered plant growing wild at Deer from 1996. It seems to be grown be correctly spelt following the locality Spur Track, Peel Forest, Canterbury. in the UK also under the name after which it is named. Because Material was grown on via seedlings M. umbellata ‘Lownug’ (RHS Plant Hokonui Alpines is a small family- at the then Botany Division, DSIR, at Finderr online, 2010). run nursery, few plants have been Lincoln (Allan Herbarium specimen distributed. CHR 386491) but was not introduced into wider cultivation. M. umbellataa ‘Red Tips’ and M. umbellataa ‘Silver Beacon’: M. umbellataa pink form: a pink- both named after the colour of their fl owered selection made from a new leaves and selected in the large old tree that grows at Kaka mid- to late 1990s by Les Cleveland Point, Otago. In the late 1990s, (pers. comm.) from an island in Lake Denis Hughes (pers. comm.) of Wanaka, Otago. Both are very cold Blue Mountain Nurseries collected hardy. cuttings and has a limited number of plants available under the name Note that M. umbellata ‘Red Tips’ Fig. 6 Metrosideros umbellata ‘Gold Nugget’. M. umbellata ‘Kaka’. Photo: ©Paul Ashford, www.NZPlantPics.com. raised by Les Cleveland has different origins to the informally named M. umbellataa white form: M. umbellataa ‘Moonlight’: arose at M. umbellata red-tipped form selected discovered about 1937 as a single Pattersons Nurseries, Invercargill, by Deane Keir. Also, M. umbellata tree with lemon-cream coloured about 2000–2001 as a vegetative “silver tips” was an informal name fl owers from Soaker Hill, MacLennan side-branch mutation of M. umbellata used by Les Cleveland for his Range, in , Otago. It was ‘Gold Nugget’ which the nursery selection, but is sold as M. umbellata discovered by employees of Latta was growing under licence (Noel ‘Silver Beacon’ (Clive Wallis, Brothers Ltd, sawmillers of Papatowai Patterson, pers. comm.). M. umbellata pers. comm.). while building a tramline for a local ‘Moonlight’ is a reversion to sawmill (Neil Jenks and Albert M. umbellataa ‘Scarlet Beacon’: variegation, but (compared to McTainsh, pers. comm.). Albert’s a selection raised by Les Cleveland M. umbellata ‘Harlequin’) is a reverse father, the late Alexander Ernest (pers. comm.) and chosen for its variegation with the cream, yellow McTainsh, was a local landowner and early fl owering. M. umbellata ‘Scarlet and gold tones in the central part part of the bush tramway team who Beacon’ has been available since of the leaf. This cultivar also differs found it in fl ower by a bankside close about 2002, and like most of Les’s from M. umbellata ‘Harlequin’ in leaf to the tramline. colouration with an overall foliage selections is available from Wallis’s appearance of lighter green and Nurseries, Mosgiel. The original white-fl owered tree in the Catlins is still alive and known less yellow (Fig. 7; Chris Barnaby, M. umbellata ‘Sparrow’s Hybrid’: by some of the locals. It is estimated pers. comm.). M. umbellata ‘Moonlight’ fi rst grown in May 1987 at the to be less than 150 years old and is has PVR protection since 2004. This former Works Property Services relatively slender (c. 70 cm diameter cultivar has also been grown in the (now Kiwifl ora Nurseries) near at chest height) and of low stature UK under the name M. umbellata Christchurch. It was named after a (c. 15 m). The leaf pigmentation is also ‘Lowmoo’ (RHS Plant Finderr online, Mr Sparrow who was a customer of a paler lemon-green when compared 2010). the nursery. He provided propagation to typical red-fl owering M. umbellata material from a plant cultivated in (Neil Jenks, pers. comm.). Christchurch City, alongside the Avon River and between Madras and Sometime in the 1980s propagation Manchester Streets (Janet Orchard, material was given (probably pers. comm.). It was commercially by a forestry worker at the then released at Kiwifl ora Nurseries in May New Zealand Forest Service) to 1994 (Janet Orchard, pers. comm.) Les Cleveland, Diack’s Nurseries, and is currently available in and Blue Mountain Nurseries. New Zealand (e.g., Gaddum, Blue Mountain Nurseries sell it 1999a, 1999b, 2001; Plantlife online under the name M. umbellata ‘Alba’ catalogue, 2010). Although the name (Les Cleveland, Denis Hughes, M. ‘Sparrow’s Hybrid’ suggests that pers. comm.). Greenish-yellow Fig. 7 Metrosideros umbellata ‘Moonlight’. it may be an interspecifi c hybrid, it is fl owered forms are found elsewhere Photo: Chris Barnaby. more likely to be a straight selection (as described below) but the Catlins M. umbellataa ‘Mt Augustus’: a low- of M. umbellata. M. ‘Sparrow’s Hybrid’ tree has the palest fl owers known in growing and cold hardy selection. is similar to M. umbellata ‘Firecracker’ the wild. It was selected in the late 1970s but more vigorous and taller growing M. umbellataa yellow form: by Louise Salmond (pers. comm.) (Lex Kenny, pers. comm.). several yellow-fl owered selections of of Hokonui Alpines in Gore, from a this species have been available in cultivation.

New Zealand Garden Journal, 2010, Vol. 13(2) 13 An historic yellow-fl owered variant is material will almost certainly be the growing on the Denniston Plateau, same clone as material that was Metrosideross in the UK Westland. This variant was fi r st given to Les Cleveland in Otago. Les A few species of Metrosideros discovered by the residents of grew seedlings of it on to produce are cultivated in milder regions Denniston in the early 1900s and is a better yellow fl ower colour, and of England, and Ireland reasonably well known locally. There cutting-produced plants of his (e.g., RHS Plant Finderr, 2010; are at least two yellow-fl owered plants best selection are sold at Wallis’s Gary Dunlop, pers. comm.). currently growing there and in 1995 Nurseries, Mosgiel, as M. umbellata Deane Keir (pers. comm.) made a ‘Gold Beacon’ (Les Cleveland and Remarkably, fully mature trees concerted effort to propagate one Clive Wallis, pers. comm.). of Metrosideros excelsaa and of them and distribute material to M. kermadecensiss are growing Rare yellow-fl owered plants are interested parties. Many plants were in the virtually frost free, still to be found in the Otira area grown on and given to charity groups equitable climate of the Tresco (Fig. 8A–B). In 1983, Dr Ian Payton or sold locally and nationally to people Abbey Gardens in the Isles of Landcare Research collected who had historical links to the town. of Scilly. Elsewhere, only the (CHR 550734) and photographed Plants of this selection have light cold-hardy M. umbellata (and to (Fig. 8A) a greenish-yellow fl owered green leaves that are rather stiff and a lesser extent M. robusta) are specimen and observed 13 trees in pointed, attractive lime-green yellow suited for growing unprotected the wild with this fl ower colour on the new-growth stems, black buds, and outside in milder regions. east side of the Otira Valley between sulphur-yellow fl owers. This selection Otira township and Aickens Railway Boscawen (1923), Thurston is slow growing with short internodes Station (Ian Payton, pers. comm.). (1930), Cox and Stoker (1938), and can be expected to reach 1 m2 In late January or early February and Arnold-Forster (2000) in fi ve or more years. It has been 2010, Joe Cartman (pers. comm.) discuss M. umbellata (under referred to as M. umbellata ‘Denniston observed two yellow-fl owered trees its earlier name M. lucida), Yellow’. in the same area. One tree, far off M. robusta, and a few other Two yellow-fl owered plants of in the distance, appeared to have species growing at notable M. umbellataa were recorded by Ruth bright yellow fl owers (Fig. 8B) that gardens in Cornwall, England. Mason and Neville Moar (1955; seem more intense than the greenish- Johnson (2007) and Grimshaw CHR 80876A–B). These plants yellow-fl owered plant introduced and Bayton (2009) update were growing near each other west 50 and 90 years ago. Although Joe these earlier references and of Burma Road, Stockton Plateau, Cartman’s new discovery has not also report that M. umbellata Westland. However, with the been introduced into cultivation, it is thriving at Logan Botanic continued mining activity at that site it would be worth critically comparing it Garden in western Scotland and is unlikely that they are still alive. with Cleveland’s M. umbellata ‘Gold at Ilnacullin (Garnish Island), Beacon’ for distinctiveness. Ballywalter Park and Mt Stewart Another yellow-fl owered plant, in Ireland (Fig. 9A–B). growing wild at Otira Gorge, was discovered by Peter Croft (Park Ranger, Arthur’s Pass National Park). Cuttings of it were brought to the then Botany Division, DSIR, Lincoln (now part of Landcare Research), by botanist Fulton Fisher in February 1960 (Landcare Research garden records). A fi ne mature specimen A was cultivated up to the mid-1990s at Landcare Research, Lincoln, before a building project encroached and A an unsuccessful transplant attempt killed it. However, a mature yellow- fl owered plant is still growing in the Christchurch Botanic Gardens (Metcalf, 1987, 2000). According to Lawrie Metcalf (pers. comm.), it was planted at the gardens by James Young sometime in the early B 1920s and probably represents Fig. 8 Metrosideros umbellata from Otira, B an early gathering of propagation Arthur’s Pass National Park. A, samples of yellow-fl owered (left) and the usual red- Fig. 9 Metrosideros umbellata material from the same tree that fl owered plant (right) collected from the wild. growing at Tir Na n’Og, Mt Stewart, grew at Otira. This original tree was Photo: Ian Payton. B, one exceptionally County Down, Ireland. A, tree in fl ower. fi nally washed away by a landslide yellow-fl owered plant is readily visible B, close-up of fl ower. (Lawrie Metcalf, pers. comm.). The (centre, arrowed) among a population of Photos: Gary Dunlop. the usual red-fl owered forms. Photo: Joe Christchurch Botanic Gardens Cartman.

14 New Zealand Garden Journal, 2010, Vol. 13(2) Ra¯ta¯ vines (ra¯ta¯) This climber attains 6 m and has There are six climbing (lianoid) weeping branches that arch out species of Metrosideros. In cultivation and hang down with small hairy they can be used as small or leaves up to 2 cm long. are ground covers to cover a bank or wall. whitish, sometimes pink, and appear All species will form shrubs rather November to January. M. colensoi than climbers when propagated from occurs naturally in coastal and cuttings taken off adult growth. lowland forest where it is often Metrosideros albifl ora (but not always) associated with (large white ra¯ta¯) limestone areas. Allan (1961) stated This species climbs to 10 m tall and that M. colensoi occurs from latitude has large, leathery leaves up to 9 cm B 35°S to 42°S with the northernmost occurrence based upon a historic long and large white fl owers during Fig. 10 . A, plant in October to March. It naturally occurs full fl ower. Photo: Jack Hobbs. B, close-up of record from the Bay of Islands. in the North Island from Te Paki to fl o w ers. Photo: Robert Lamberts. However, Graeme Platt’s observations and current herbarium records the Kaimai Range where it has a M. carmineaa ‘Carousel’: arose as indicate that it is mainly south of fairly local distribution and is mostly a variegated sport of M. carminea latitude 37°S in the North Island and found in kauri forest (Allan, 1961). ‘Ferris Wheel’ with leaves that have in the South Island as far south as Graeme Platt has noted free-standing yellow margins. Being vegetatively Greymouth and Kaikoura. shrubby specimens growing amongst propagated from the adult form of regenerating native vegetation on the the species it is largely non-climbing This species is not widely cultivated ranges near Waima in Northland. and grows as a shrub (Metcalf, 1987, but is available from specialist native M. albifl ora prefers a shady position 2000). It was introduced by Duncan plant nurseries (e.g., Gaddum, 1997, and should be reasonably hardy in & Davies nursery in 1987 (Edwards, 1999a, 1999b, 2001). cultivation. Although this species 1987b). M. ‘Carousel’ had PVR (white ra¯ta¯) is well worth growing, it is seldom protection from 1983 to 2008. This species climbs to 6 m tall and available from plant nurseries M. carmineaa ‘Ferris Wheel’: a non- has small shiny leaves up to 2 cm or (Metcalf, 1987, 2000; Gaddum, climbing compact plant that fl owers more. Flowers are white or pale pink 1999a, 1999b, 2001). heavily (Metcalf, 1987, 2000). Duncan occurring in October to January. This Metrosideros carminea & Davies nursery fi rst introduced it as is the most common climbing ra¯ta¯ in (crimson ra¯ta¯) M. carminea adult foliage in 1978– the wild, found naturally in lowland When grown from seed this species 1980. When they fi rst gave it a cultivar forests throughout the North, South grows into a climber to 15 m or more name several years afterwards, they and Stewart islands (Allan, 1961). mistakenly spelt it “Ferrous Wheel”. tall and when grown from cuttings of Cultivated plants fl ower better in a the adult foliage it becomes a small This was quickly corrected to “Ferris Wheel”, named after the American sunny position. It is not widely grown compact shrub. M. carmineaa has but is available from specialist native small shiny green leaves up to 3.5 cm engineer, G.W.G. Ferris (Lawrie Metcalf, pers. comm.). plant nurseries (e.g., Gaddum, 1997, long and bright carmine fl owers that 1999a, 1999b, 2001). appear from August to October. This M. carminea ‘Red Carpet’: species naturally occurs in the North imported from by Naturally An early nursery catalogue (William Island, from North Cape to East Cape Native NZ Plants many years ago Martin and Son catalogue of plants, and Taranaki (Allan, 1961). (Fig. 11) and is probably no different 25, 1906/07) listed a selection to M. carmineaa ‘Ferris Wheel’ or plants as M. hypericifoliaa variegata. The The bright fl owers are so prolifi c that is a synonym for when in full bloom little else can be propagated from mature foliage of the species (Esmé Dean, pers. comm.). M. diffusaa and the cultivar name may seen of the plant – for this reason it is indicate that there was an historic the best of the climbing ra¯ta¯ species variegated selection referrable to to grow. It is frost tender and prefers M. diffusa. a sunny position. A few cultivars grown from cuttings of the adult form M. diffusa ‘Crystal Showers’: (Fig. 10A–B) have been selected: a variegated form of M. diffusaa that has creamy margins around its leaves. It was discovered by Colin Beattie (pers. comm.) on Stewart Island sometime in the early 1990s. Colin Beattie was at that time an apprentice with Blue Mountain Nurseries at Tapanui. This selection is available at Blue Mountain Nurseries Fig. 11 Metrosideros carminea ‘Red Carpet’. and erroneously sold in some North Photo: Naturally Native NZ Plants. Island nurseries under the names A M. diffusaa ‘Crystal’ and M. refl exa ‘Crystal’ (Denis Hughes, pers. comm.).

New Zealand Garden Journal, 2010, Vol. 13(2) 15 Metrosideros fulgens M. fulgens ‘Orange Princess’: (scarlet ra¯ta¯ ) another orange-fl owered cultivar This shrub or climber reaches 12 m released one year before M. fulgens or more in height. It has rather large ‘Jaffa’. M. ‘Orange Princess’ was leaves up to 6 cm (rarely up to introduced by Duncan & Davies 7.5 cm) and its fl owers are usually nursery in 2000 from material bright orange or orange-scarlet. It collected by Jim Rumbal from the generally fl owers later than other Onaero River valley in North Taranaki. species, with blooms occurring M. fulgens ‘Red Glow’: with orange- February to June (although it can also red fl owers, this selection is the more fl ower in spring according to John typical form of the species. We do Dawson, pers. comm.). This species not know who named it as a cultivar is found in coastal and lowland forest A but this name has only been used on the Three Kings Islands and in the by nurseries for a few years. It is North and South islands (Allan, 1961; available from several nurseries (e.g., as M. scandens). Plantman online catalogue, 2010). In cultivation it is easily grown and The following two cultivars are known reasonably hardy, preferring a warm, from records in the late 1920s, sunny position and shaded roots apparently selected from M. fulgens, (Metcalf, 1987, 2000). It is suitable but lacking further details. as a container plant. All cultivars of M. fulgenss are small shrubs rather M. fulgenss ‘Magnifi ca’: listed in than climbers as they are propagated a 1929 Duncan & Davies Nursery from cuttings of the adult form. Each Catalogue (No. 12) as M. scandens cultivar was selected for fl ower colour. var. magnifi ca. M. fulgens ‘Aurata’: this plant is M. fulgenss ‘Variegata’: listed in a colour break with golden-yellow Bailey (1928, p. 2045) as M. fl orida fl owers. Rare plants with this fl ower var. variegataa but insuffi ciently colouration have been found from B described. Auckland to Collingwood. It was Fig. 12 Metrosideros fulgenss ‘Gold’. A, plant in fl ower and bud. Photo: Naturally Native NZ fi rst discovered in the Collingwood Plants. B, close-up of fl owers. Photo: ©Paul (small white ra¯ta¯) district in 1890 by a Mrs S. Featon of Ashford, www.NZPlantPics.com. This species is a shrubby climber Gisborne. She provided specimens to M. fulgens ‘Jaffa’: this is the name to 15 m tall with small, rounded, William Colenso who gave it the name of the orange-fl owered cultivar dull green leaves up to 1.2 cm M. aurataa believing it to be a new (Fig. 13) selected by Jenny Oliphant long. Flowers are white, sometimes species (Allan, 1961; Metcalf, 1987, from the Tairua-Whitianga Road in pink, and appear January to March 2000). the early 1990s. It was named by (Fig. 14A–C). It is found in coastal and In the early 1990s Jenny Oliphant Malcolm Woolmore and marketed lowland forest and forest margins on (of the former Cyclone Flora by Lyndale Nurseries who fi rst the Three Kings Islands, throughout micropropagation laboratory in released it in 2001 (Cath Griffi ths and the North Island, and in the South Auckland) collected cuttings of both Malcolm Woolmore, pers. comm.). Island to Martins Bay on the west yellow- and orange-fl owering plants of It is currently available at several coast and Banks Peninsula in the east M. fulgenss from the Tairua-Whitianga nurseries. (Allan, 1961). Road on the . In cultivation this species fl owers well These cuttings were rooted and in a sunny position. When grown from grown on at Lyndale Nurseries. When cuttings it makes an attractive shrub the plants were large enough explants usually to 1.5 m but sometimes taller. were taken to Cyclone Flora and Plants propagated from adult foliage initiated into culture. After propagation should be more widely grown but it they were returned to Lyndale is only available from a few native Nurseries for defl asking and growing plant nurseries (e.g., Gaddum, 1997, on. Lyndale Nurseries marketed the 1999a, 1999b, 2001; Plantman online yellow-fl owered selection from 2001 catalogue, 2010). under the name M. fulgens ‘Gold’ (Fig. 12A–B; Anon., 2001c; Gaddum, 2001; Plantman online catalogue, 2010; Jenny Oliphant and Malcolm Woolmore, pers. comm.). Fig. 13 Metrosideros fulgenss ‘Jaffa’. Photo: www.liddlewonder.co.nz.

16 New Zealand Garden Journal, 2010, Vol. 13(2) but otherwise acts as a shrub and is as a specimen plant. M. parkinsonii well suited to growing in containers. It is quite hardy and best suited to is available from Naturally Native and cooler climates with ample has had PVR protection since 1996. moisture, where it requires shaded M. ‘Wee Willie Winkie’ is the only roots (Metcalf, 1987, 2000). Plants named cultivar of M. perforataa that we are available from a few native plant know of. nurseries (e.g., Gaddum, 1997, 1999a, 1999b, 2001).

Cultivars of non-New Zealand species A few Metrosideross cultivars are grown in New Zealand that are derived from Pacifi c Island species. These are all frost tender and most have long or sporadic fl owering A periods throughout the year, instead of a mass-fl owering event once a year as is typical of New Zealand species. The correct names and identities of A some have become confused but we confi rm that most are selections of M. collina (Fig. 16), a species native to the islands of , the Marquesas, , the Society Islands and . Further work is required to B conclusively state which varieties of M. collinaa the cultivars belong to. Fig. 15 Metrosideros perforataa ‘Wee Willie Winkie’. A, plant in cultivation. B, close-up of variegated foliage. Photos: Naturally Native NZ Plants. B Metrosideros parkinsonii (Parkinson’s ra¯ta¯) This species is a bit of an oddball for New Zealand. Although it belongs in Subgenus Mearnsiaa with the ra¯ta¯ vines (Metrosideros albifl ora, M. carminea, M. colensoi, M. diffusa, M. fulgens, and M. perforata) it is not a climber but instead a sprawling shrub or small tree to 7 m tall. It also has an unusual and restricted distribution in two widely separated areas of C New Zealand. In the South Island it is found naturally in North-West Nelson Fig. 14 Metrosideros perforata. A, botanical illustration (then as M. buxifolia (scandens)) and south to near Hokitika, and in the in Curtis’s Botanical Magazine, London, Hauraki Gulf it is confi ned to Great Vol. 76 (= Ser. 3, Vol. 6): Tab. 4515, 1850. and Little Barrier islands. Image courtesy Missouri Botanical Garden, www.botanicus.org. B, plant in fl ower. Photo: Metrosideros parkinsoniii grows in Naturally Native NZ Plants. C, close-up of coastal to montane forest and has Fig. 16 Botanical illustration of Metrosideros fl owers. Photo: Naturally Native NZ Plants. rather large leaves to 5 cm (rarely up collinaa in Curtis’s Botanical Magazine, M. perforataa ‘Wee Willie Winkie’: to 7.5 cm) and long bright crimson London, Vol. 146 (= Ser. 4, Vol. 16): Tab. 8846, 1920. Image courtesy Missouri found in the late 1980s by Mark Dean fl owers from November to January Botanical Garden, www.botanicus.org. of Naturally Native NZ Plants during (Allan, 1961). It was named after a comfort stop in the Waioeke Gorge Sydney Parkinson, the botanical M. collina ‘Crimson Glory’ and (Dean, 2001; Naturally Native NZ artist on Cook’s fi rst voyage to M. collina ‘Red Baby’: two selections Plants online catalogue, 2010; Esmé New Zealand. made by Terry Keogh of Unique Dean, pers. comm.). This selection Plants at Victoria Point, Queensland, This species is mainly grown for has a compact growth habit and small Australia. Both cultivars are protected its attractive fl owers. Plants may green leaves that have distinctively by Australian Plant Breeder’s Rights need some pruning and training to variegated cream margins (Fig. 15A– (Plant Varieties Journal, 2009, Vol. 22, achieve a good shape and it can B). In time it will climb up a support No. 3). They were fi rst sold in Australia be grown against walls or fences or

New Zealand Garden Journal, 2010, Vol. 13(2) 17 in November 2007 and are marketed M. collinaa ‘Fiji’: this plant was under the name Aussie Winners®. introduced into New Zealand by Os Blumhardt who collected it in The Aussie Winners website (www. Fiji. Ballard (2006) states that Os’s aussiewinners.com.au) currently plant collections were made in the states that they were both bred from highlands of Taveuni and Viti Levu in “crosses of M. collina from July 1985. This is the most likely date with M. villosa from the islands of and places where he collected the New Zealand and selected from the parental stock. progeny then back crossed to get the smaller growing varieties as we A M. collina ‘Fiji’ is probably the correct have in the ‘Firebird’ series.” This is name for this selection, not the other confusing as M. collinaa is not native variants it has been known as in the to Hawai’i and M. villosaa is not a nursery trade (including Metrosideros currently accepted name – it is a ‘Fiji’, M. ‘Fiji Fire’, M. collinaa var. synonym of M. kermadecensis (Allan, ‘Vitiensis’, M. collinaa var. vitiensis ‘Fiji’, 1961) and M. collinaa var. villosa and M. vitiencensis ‘Fiji’). The variety (Smith, 1973). M. collinaa var. vitiensiss is no longer current as it is a synonym of M. collina The Australian Plant Breeder’s Rights var. collina (Smith, 1973). However, (PBR) database (http://pericles. B specimens would need to be critically ipaustralia.gov.au/pbr_db/search. Fig. 18 ‘Red Baby’. identifi ed by an expert to confi rm cfm) is more authoritative in giving A, plant in fl ower. B, close-up of fl owers. which of the three Fijian varieties this the parentage of both selections as Photos: Edward Bunker of Aussie Winners. cultivar belongs to. controlled crosses between M. collina Both cultivars have recently been ‘Spring Fire’ (maternal parent) and imported into New Zealand by Elliott’s M. collina ‘Fiji’ is mainly grown for the M. collina ‘’ (paternal parent). Wholesale Nursery of Canterbury burgundy new growth of its young According to the PBR database, and are subject to New Zealand Plant leaves and branchlets that contrast seeds of this cross were collected Variety Rights applications (Jeff Elliot well with the mature dark green and germinated, about 120 plants and Chris Barnaby, pers. comm.). foliage. It has a compact habit suitable were planted, and in 2001 two were for border planting, hedging or selected as medium growing forms M. collinaa ‘Little Dugald’: a new growing in containers. The fl owers are compared to small and tall parental selection raised by Terry Keogh and small and orange-red. It is sold under types. These were named M. ‘Crimson named after his young grandson, its various names in New Zealand Glory’ (Fig. 17A–B) and M. ‘Red Baby’ Dugald Keogh-Dalley. M. collina (e.g., Gaddum, 1999a, 1999b, 2001; (Fig. 18A–B). ‘Little Dugald’ is the result of a cross Lyndale Nurseries online catalogue, between M. collina ‘Fiji’ and M. collina 2010; Plantlife Propagators online ‘Spring Fire’. After six years it has catalogue, 2010; Plant Production grown to less than two metres (Terry online catalogue, 2010) and Australia Keogh, pers. comm.). This cultivar has (e.g., Redlands Nursery online been accepted for PBR protection catalogue, 2010). in Australia. It is currently sold in Australia (Aspley Nursery online M. collina ‘Spring Fire’: the correct catalogue, 2010, as M. ‘Little Dugald’). name and origin of this cultivar (Fig. 19) has become extremely M. collinaa ‘Explosion’: a variegated confused and although we can be side-branch sport of M. collina ‘Spring sure of some details, its raiser and Fire’, selected and raised in 1997– place of origin remain unknown. It is A 1998 by W. John Wearmouth of Kauri defi nitely not a selection of M. excelsa Park Nurseries, Northland (Laurie as stated by Gaddum (1997, 1999a, Wearmouth, pers. comm.). 1999b). The leaves of M. collina ‘Explosion’ have a well-defi ned bright-gold central variegation with a green outer edge. It has the same growth habit and free- fl owering characteristics as its parent, M. collina ‘Spring Fire’. Although the New Zealand Plant Variety Rights journals do not state B which species this selection belongs to, there is current PVR protection Fig. 17 Metrosideros collina ‘Crimson Glory’. Fig. 19 Metrosideros collina ‘Spring Fire’. A, plant in fl ower. B, close-up of fl owers. (NZPVR Journal, No. 116, 14 January Photo: Lyndale Nurseries. Photos: Edward Bunker of Aussie Winners. 2009; No. 120, 14 January 2010) and M. collina ‘Explosion’ is available from nurseries.

18 New Zealand Garden Journal, 2010, Vol. 13(2) Edwards (1990d) tried to resolve its M. collina ‘Spring Fire’ is legitimate Pacifi c island populations of M. collina origins and suggested that it may and is the name that should be used. often have a mixture of glabrous have been selected by Ben Swane of (lacking hairs) and pubescent M. collina ‘Spring Fire’ is very free Swanes Nurseries, NSW, Australia. (hairy) leaved plants (John Dawson, fl owering with orange-red fl owers and However, Ben Swane did not raise it pers. comm.). M. collina ‘Tahiti’ is well suited as a container plant. and although more widely known in a pubescent plant with silvery new Australia, Swanes Nurseries suggests M. collina ‘Tahiti’: the origin of this foliage that matures to grey-green. that it may have originally been cultivar is documented by Edwards As such it probably is a selection of selected in New Zealand, perhaps (1990e) with additional information M. collinaa var. villosa. It is compact in the 1970s (Noel Deakin and Ben supplied here by John Dawson and low-growing (to 1 m tall) and Swane, pers. comm.). (pers. comm.). produces orange-red fl owers throughout the year. M. collina ‘Tahiti’ The plant was originally named The late Isobel Morice of is well suited to small coastal gardens M. ‘Thomasii’ and in the late 1980s, was plant collecting in Tahiti in the and is also ideal as a container plant Lyndale Nurseries imported cuttings 1970s and saw plants of M. collina in frost-free climates. from Swanes Nurseries (and probably that ranged from shrubs to small reintroduced it) into New Zealand. trees on a high mountain ridge. M. collina ‘Tahiti’ is widely available They renamed it M. villosa ‘Spring She gathered specimens for John (e.g., Lyndale Nurseries online Fire’ because their plants fi rst Dawson at the Botany Department of catalogue, 2010; Plant Production fl owered in August (Jan Velvin, Victoria University of Wellington. He online catalogue, 2010; Plantlife pers. comm.) and they currently germinated some seed from capsules Propagators online catalogue, 2010; market it under that name (Lyndale of the imported material and grew on Plantman online catalogue, 2010). Nurseries online catalogue, 2010). plants which eventually fl owered. Jack Hobbs has successfully However, the species name used by The late George Rainey of Auckland hybridised M. collina ‘Tahiti’ with Lyndale Nurseries, M. villosa, is not visited John Dawson because a selection of M. excelsaa that was currently accepted and is a synonym he had heard of his research on growing near the main entrance of the of M. collinaa var. villosa (Smith, 1973). Metrosideros. John Dawson showed Auckland Regional Botanic Gardens. Edwards (1990d) confi rmed that the him the plants and gave him a couple. This cross was made in 1992 and cultivar has been formally identifi ed George Rainey propagated material resulted in more than 100 seedlings. as M. collinaa and stated that the new from cuttings, named it M. collina Two of these were selected for further growth is very tomentose (with dense ‘Tahiti’, and introduced it onto the evaluation and are growing near matted hairs) which may indeed New Zealand market (Fig. 20). the botanic garden’s visitor centre, indicate variety villosa. Huakaiwaka. One is also growing at It has since been reimported into Ayrlies, Bev McConnell’s Whitford Australia under its later name, garden. Neither hybrid has been M. ‘Spring Fire’ (e.g., Redlands named or is commercially available. Nursery online catalogue, 2010), M. collinaa ‘Tahitian Sunset’: and material should be identical to a variegated mutation of M. collina plants still sold there as M. ‘Thomasii’. ‘Tahiti’ with cream and green leaves However, to further complicate and pinkish young shoots. Like its matters, Edward Bunker of Redlands parent (M. collina ‘Tahiti’) it has a low Nursery in Queensland apparently growing spreading habit (1×1 m), also grows another form of strongly pubescent (hairy) leaves and Metrosideros ‘Thomasii’ (Noel Deakin red fl o w ers. This cultivar was raised and Ben Swane, pers. comm.). by Robert Bett, formerly of Lyndale Because plants under the name Fig. 20 Metrosideros collina ‘Tahiti’. Nurseries Auckland. New Zealand M. ‘Thomasii’ have a long history of Photo: Lyndale Nurseries. PVR was applied for in 2007 and this cultivation through cuttings, tissue cultivar is currently under test with culture and probably seed, it is Plants are often sold without a a decision likely early 2011 (Chris certainly possible that there are now species name and have also been Barnaby, pers. comm.). This cultivar two forms grown. incorrectly offered in New Zealand as M. villosus ‘Tahiti’ (Gaddum, is currently listed in the New Zealand The cultivar name “Spring Fire” is 1997) and M. villosa ‘Tahiti’ Plant Finder online database (as sometimes changed to “Springfi re” (Edwards, 1990e; Gaddum, 1999a, M. ‘Tahitian Sunset’). (e.g., Plant Production online 1999b, 2001). This cultivar is also M. nervulosaa ‘Lord Howe’: catalogue, 2010; Plantman online sold in Australia (e.g., Redlands sold in limited quantities by Lyndale catalogue, 2010; Redlands Nursery Nursery online catalogue, 2010). Nurseries under the informal name online catalogue, 2010). Redlands Nursery (2010) incorrectly Metrosideros “Lord Howe” (Malcolm M. ‘Thomasii’ is an illegitimate name stated its origin as “a selection Woolmore, pers. comm.). The species according to the International Code from Metrosideros villosus (syn. to which this selection belongs is of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants M. kermadecensis) coming from the M. nervulosa (erroneously listed by (ICNCP) as it is a Latinised name of New Zealand”. In Gaddum 2001 as M. nervosaa and published after 1 January 1959. Australia it has also been incorrectly Gaddum 1999a, 1999b, 2001 as called M. polymorphaa ‘Tahiti’. M. rugosaa ‘Lord Howe Is’).

New Zealand Garden Journal, 2010, Vol. 13(2) 19 The original material was given Climbing species will tolerate some Cuttings are best made from the to Graeme Platt and to Lyndale shade and can be used as ground previous season’s growth in autumn Nurseries by Bret McKay, who covers that will cover a bank or wall, (as semi-hardwood cuttings). Some collected seed from or trained up fern and tree trunks. species have a juvenile growth and brought it to New Zealand in the Some of the named cultivars are stage and can take many years mid-1980s (Bret McKay, pers. comm.). small shrubs rather than climbers. to fl ower when grown from seed. This selection should be referred to Vegetative propagation of adult growth Pruning to maintain a desired shape as M. nervulosaa ‘Lord Howe’. circumvents this problem and results and for dead removal should be in plants that will fl ower freely from an Bret has also raised some done just after fl owering. In gardens early age. interspecifi c hybrids using where space is limited, tree species M. nervulosaa as a parent. He crossed are best grown on a single trunk Insect pests include thrips, sap- M. nervulosaa pollen onto M. excelsa allowing branching at about 2 m in sucking insects (psyllids), torticid ‘Vibrance’ fl owers and the resultant height. This requires frequent removal caterpillars, the native bronze beetle hybrids more closely resemble of side-branches for the fi rst few (Eucolaspis brunneus) and the M. nervulosaa than M. excelsa. years. po¯hutukawa leaf miner (Neomycta These hybrids are not commercially rubida). Insecticides and spraying All species can be grown from seed, available. oil can be used to help control these which is produced abundantly and pests. Bergin and Hosking (2006) M. polymorpha: the most abundant germinates readily. However, cultivars and others argue that the damage native tree on Hawai’i where it occurs and selected forms will come true to caused by insects is relatively minor from near sea level to 2600 m. This type only if propagated vegetatively by and seldom long-lasting compared to remarkable species is the fi rst to grafts, air-layering, cuttings or tissue- the destruction caused by possums. colonise fl ows (an attribute culture. Most of the cultivars that However, Neomycta can be a real shared with M. excelsa). As its name used to be sold by Duncan & Davies problem to cultivated po¯hutukawa in suggests, M. polymorphaa is highly nursery were propagated by grafting the Auckland area. variable (polymorphic) and ranges to produce plants on a commercially from prostrate shrubs to tall trees viable scale that were more vigorous New Zealand species and cultivars with leaves that vary greatly in size, and fl owered sooner than cutting that we consider distinct or shape and hairiness. Like M. excelsa produced plants. outstanding are listed in Table 1, along of New Zealand, M. polymorpha with their horticultural attributes. An has fl owers that are usually red but asterisk denotes those cultivars we sometimes range from salmon, pink, consider to be particularly exceptional. yellow, orange and white. Some selections are propagated in Hawai’i Table 1 Outstanding species and cultivars of New Zealand Metrosideros. for their fl ower colours but we do not know of any named cultivars. Cultivar Distinguishing features Although there are a few specimen * M. carminea ‘Ferris Wheel’ / M. ‘Red Carpet’ fl oriferous, brilliant carmine fl owers trees of M. polymorphaa grown in M. excelsaa ‘Aurea’ yellow fl owers New Zealand, it is not commercially M. excelsa ‘Kopere’ fl oriferous, vibrant orange-red fl owers, sold here. glossy green foliage M. excelsa ‘Manukau’ fl oriferous, orange-red fl owers Although eight or more botanical varieties of M. polymorphaa have been M. excelsa ‘Plus Four’ fl oriferous, bright true-red fl owers, rounded foliage, upright growth form listed (Friday and Herbert, 2006), a M. excelsa ‘Sunglow’ golden young foliage morphological and molecular study * does not support this treatment M. excelsa ‘Tamaki’ large bright orange-red fl owers, large leaves (James et al., 2004). * M. excelsa ‘Titirangi’ fl oriferous, large bright scarlet-red fl owers, upright growth form Notes on cultivation M. excelsa ‘Variegata’ variegated foliage As discussed, many species including M. carminea, M. excelsa, * M. excelsa ‘Vibrance’ fl oriferous, brilliant fl owers, upright growth form M. kermadecensis, and particularly M. fulgenss Jaffa’ / M. ‘Orange Princess’ orange fl owers the Pacifi c Island selections are frost tender, especially when the plants M. fulgenss ‘Aurata’ / M. ‘Gold’ golden yellow fl owers are young. Others such as M. robusta M. kermadecensis ‘Variegata’ variegated foliage and M. umbellataa are cold hardy M. robusta ‘Kawa Copper’ coppery red young growth, compact and can withstand some frost once growth habit, cold hardy established. M. umbellata ‘Gold Nugget’ golden-yellow new leaves, cold hardy, compact growth habit Metrosideros are tolerant of a wide M. umbellata ‘Gold Beacon’ golden-yellow fl owers, cold hardy, compact range of soil conditions, but most growth habit prefer well-drained sites, reasonably rich soil, and an open position. All species are suitable for growing in containers, at least for the fi rst 10–15 years.

20 New Zealand Garden Journal, 2010, Vol. 13(2) The selection of hybrids and Threats to po¯hutukawa As discussed in Part One, cultivars now in circulation is and ra¯ta¯ M. kermadecensiss (Kermadec indeed impressive and the reports Unfortunately po¯hutukawa and Island po¯hutukawa) and of new selections suggest we shall ra¯ta¯ are seriously threatened M. excelsaa (po¯hutukawa) have be seeing even more impressive by the introduced brushtail the capacity to hybridise. To cultivars becoming available possum. Browsing of the foliage avoid any chance of genetically in the near future. The cultivar and buds by possums reduces tainting natural populations performance notes are useful both tree growth and fl owering of M. excelsa, it may be wise and historically these will become and is responsible for the death not to plant M. kermadecensis extremely important. of many thousands of trees or Pacifi c Island species and In the last few years there has throughout New Zealand (e.g., cultivars in sensitive areas been little information published. Bergin and Hosking, 2006). where po¯hutukawa occur The selection of Metrosideros naturally. Grazing on the seedlings by hybrids and cultivars in domesticated animals (such garden centres has ‘dumbed- as cattle and sheep) and feral down’ considerably which is Summary animals (particularly goats) also disappointing especially when We have comprehensively prevents natural regeneration. you consider the fabulous range documented origins for all Regeneration is further available. This has resulted in Metrosideross cultivars known to us. prevented because the fi ne some cultivars becoming diffi cult Few remain for which we have no seed cannot germinate through or impossible to obtain and some in-depth information of their status or thick layers of introduced are in danger of being lost to origins (e.g., M. excelsaa ‘Jester’ and grasses such as kikuyu horticulture. M. excelsaa ‘Springtime’). Some of the (Pennisetum clandestinum). relatively recent names for which we The importance and heritage Po¯hutukawa are also lack details are from overseas (e.g., of the species and cultivars to threatened by damage and M. excelsaa ‘Beoley Gold’, M. excelsa New Zealand landscapes provide disturbance from coastal ‘Mini Christmas’, M. kermadecensis great opportunities for showing development, land clearing, ‘Cream Ridge’ and M. kermadecensis them off to the large number of fi res, road widening, and other ‘Gala’) and may be new selections international tourists now visiting human impacts. These threats or established cultivars that have these shores. Those who have are more fully explained by illegitimately been renamed. seen the avenue planting of Bergin and Hosking (2006). M. excelsa ‘Vibrance’ in full bloom We have determined the correct at the Auckland Botanic Gardens Gordon Hosking estimated that identities and cultivar names for non- in December will confi rm their more than 95% of po¯hutukawa New Zealand species; most belong exceptional fl owering performance forest has been eliminated to M. collinaa although we have not year after year. (Simpson, 1994). In 1990, the identifi ed which variety each cultivar Project Crimson Trust was belongs to. Further research and It is reported that 13,000 eco- formed in an effort to halt the critical comparisons of plant material sourced po¯hutukawa and ra¯ta¯ decline and hopefully increase are needed to help resolve any were planted in 2008. I cannot numbers of po¯hutukawa and remaining uncertainties. fathom why we continue to plant ra¯ta¯ in the wild. Project Crimson thousands of seedlings annually encourages the planting and Final comments in public places when such protection of po¯hutukawa and Murray Dawson and Peter magnifi cent high-performance ra¯ta¯ through sponsorship of Heenan are compiling a register of cultivars are now readily available. community projects Metrosideross cultivars. This register With the wide palette of form (www.projectcrimson.org.nz). will become available on the RNZIH website (www.rnzih.org.nz/pages/ and fl ower colours available from People can help by trapping or cultivars.html). In the meantime, a existing cultivars, the wide range shooting possums in their areas checklist for Metrosideross without a of species from New Zealand and and controlling invasive weeds. bibliography follows this article in the overseas, and the knowledge that Although the species and New Zealand Garden Journal. interspecifi c hybrids can occur, cultivars listed in this article there are great opportunities for are suited for garden and We leave the last words to Bob formal breeding work. amenity use, local eco-sourced Edwards: It is a great pity that there are no stock should be used when “Congratulations to Murray, large-scale breeding programmes, planting in or near any areas Jack, Graeme and Jim for national Metrosideross collections, where Metrosideross occur bringing us the update articles or formal assessment trials of their naturally. This stock should be on Metrosideros and for the cultivars. In addition to breeding propagated from seed collected thoroughness of the research and ornamental cultivars, other from naturally occurring plants. data recording. initiatives could include production Plants should never be removed of cultivars with high nectar fl ows from the wild. suitable for native bird and gecko

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