Metrosideros Excelsa pot 17 red flowering evergreen shrub

Native to the Hawaiian Islands, Australia and New Zealand, the metrosideros is an exotic and curious shrub, distinguished by its very distinctive flowers, resembling red plumes, but also pink, yellow, orange in varieties, which bloom from spring to late summer. Valuable in balconies and terraces, as it is a slow-growing evergreen, up to 2 metres tall (much taller in its native lands), with dense foliage and leathery, oval, grey-green leaves. It tolerates drought and salty breezes well.

The metrosideros loves full sun, but tolerates half-shade where, however, it flowers less. It prefers a warm, dry climate and can withstand up to 2-4 °C: it can withstand a short frost, but fears cold wind and prolonged frost, especially if associated with dampness. In areas with harsh winters the pot should be sheltered during the cold months. It prefers loose soil with a tendency to be acidic, with good drainage. Apply slow-release granular fertiliser for flowering plants at the end of winter and in autumn. Repot every 2-3 years.

JAR: 19
BOTANICAL NAME: Metrosideros Tomentosa or Metrosideros excelsus
Variety: EXCELSA
Family: Myrtaceae
Origin: Australia and New Zealand
Common name: 'Christmas tree' because in its native lands it blossoms in winter, right in the festive season. Here, on the other hand, flowering takes place in spring.
Water: normal, 2-3 times a week in summer