pohutukawa varieties

What is the difference between Rata and Pohutukawa?

Southern rata is on the left and pohutukawa on the right. Note that the southern rata has dark green pointed leaves and that pohutukawa has shorter rounded leaves that have a whitish velvety texture on the underside. Pohutukawa tends also to have more stamens and as a result denser and more prolific flowers.

Is there a yellow pohutukawa?

Pohutukawa are native to New Zealand and are part of the myrtle family. Yellow pohutukawa or 'Metrosideros excelsa Aurea' trees are found in several commercial and garden nurseries. All the trees are believed to be descended from a pair discovered in 1940 on Mōtiti Island in the Bay of Plenty.

How fast do pohutukawa trees grow?

In a very fertile environment with good moisture and plenty of room, young pohutukawa grow very quickly (at around 30cm per year in height and 5-10cm in diameter), often having quite a bushy form due to multi stems and vigorous lower stem growth, whereas older trees gain around 10cm in height a year and 2mm in diameter ...

Can you prune pohutukawa?

Undertake any work when the tree is most dormant – i.e. mid winter. However, reducing the size of a pohutukawa is not easy. If you cut large branches back you will precipitate epicormic growth back along the remaining branch which thickens up the within tree foliage.

Do pohutukawa trees flower every year?

Yes, you will get flowers over months, but you only get a few flowers at any one time and the whole thing about the pohutukawa is that beautiful mass of bloom around Christmas.

What does a pohutukawa symbolize?

The pohutukawa tree is a New Zealand icon with deep spiritual meaning for Māori, connecting the beginning and ending of human life. In Māori mythology, the red fiowers represent the blood of the warrior Tawhaki, a spirit ancestor who showed the way from earth to heaven but fell and died in doing so.

Who owns motiti Island?

The Wills family, who own some of the southern end of Motiti, certainly aren't in any hurry to sell up. The family arrived 33 years ago after a long-time landowner sold a large chunk of the island.

Is the pohutukawa endangered?

Despite its importance as a cultural symbol, Pohutukawa populations have declined dramatically – 25 years ago it was thought that up to 90% of coastal Pohutukawa stands had disappeared. The primary threat to this species is invasive non-native possums.

Can you grow pohutukawa in pots?

It is more compact growing and will flower prolifically when grown in pots and containers. To care for your pohutukawa feed it with Tui Organic Seaweed Plant Tonic which will improve the trees overall health and gives frost protection up to about minus 5ºC.

Is pohutukawa a good firewood?

The wood of the pohutukawa is tough and springy and makes fantastic axe or hammer handles. Any pieces not suitable for woodworking are fantastic firewood, and the rest makes great mulch. Oh, and pohutukawa honey is the best.

Can I cut the tree in my backyard?

With few exceptions, most cities and counties require that you obtain a permit to remove a tree on your own property. ... Also, the rules may be different depending on how far the tree is from your property line. However, dead trees typically can be removed without a permit.

Is it illegal to cut down native trees?

In the early 2000's many Council's protected trees over a certain height or diameter in urban and rural areas, and consent was required to cut trees down or prune them. ... As a result, many trees within urban areas of Auckland can now be removed without the need of a resource consent.

Can I chop down a tree?

It is a criminal offence to cut down, top, lop, uproot, wilfully damage or wilfully destroy a tree protected by a TPO, or to cause or permit such actions, without the authority's permission. ... You can find out if the tree has a TPO by contacting the tree officer at your local council.

Do pohutukawa trees grow in Australia?

Mysteriously, the pōhutukawa and its myrtle cousins are no longer found in Australia. They exist all over the South Pacific, from Hawaii, to Papua New Guinea, to the Bonin Islands near Japan, to a number of sub-Antarctic islands. But the trees do not grow Down Under.

How do pohutukawa grow?

Pohutukawa seed matures in autumn, rata in winter. Pick a dry day, hold a large bag over a cluster of seed capsules and shake it to produce thousands of tiny seeds. Alternatively, put a sheet on the ground, tap the branches and stand clear. Take care when gathering seed because it is very fine.

Where do pohutukawa trees grow?

Found throughout the North Island, particularly north of New Plymouth and Gisborne. Pohutukawa grows best in warm, drier areas close to the sea. Grows to 20 metres high by 35 metres wide.

Are there pohutukawa in the South Island?

Pohutukawa is a coastal tree that can be found in the wild only on the North Island. ... The rata (also called northern rata) is a common tree that grows throughout the North Island and the top of the South Island (mainly along the west coast down to Greymouth).

How far is Mayor Island from Tauranga?

Mayor Island (or Tuhua) is a dormant shield volcano located off the Bay of Plenty coast of New Zealand's North Island. It lies 35 kilometres (22 mi) north of Tauranga and covers 13 km² (5 sq mi). The island is quite steep along its coast and rises to 355 metres (1,165 ft) above sea level.

Where is the Astrolabe Reef?

Astrolabe Reef is near Motiti Island, 20 kilometres NE of Tauranga, off the Bay of Plenty coast in New Zealand. The reef, which breaks the water surface at low tide, is a renowned scuba diving spot that drops off to 37 metres (121 ft) in different parts.

Can you eat pohutukawa?

Nowadays, shops sell honey made from the nectar collected from pohutukawa flowers. With any plants, don't ever try to eat any part of them unless you are very sure they are safe.

How old is the pohutukawa tree?

Possibly the most famous pōhutukawa in Maori legend is a small, wind-beaten tree clinging to the cliff face near Cape Reinga. The 800-year-old tree is reputed to guard the entrance to a sacred cave through which disembodied spirits pass on their way to the next world.

What is the New Zealand Christmas tree called?

The pohutukawa tree (Metrosideros excelsa) with its crimson flower has become an established part of the New Zealand Christmas tradition. This iconic Kiwi Christmas tree, which often features on greeting cards and in poems and songs, has become an important symbol for New Zealanders at home and abroad.