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May 13, 2008: Boschniakia strobilacea
May 13, 2007:
Rosa 'Ausmas'
May 13, 2006:
Lobelia tupa
May 13, 2005:
Enkianthus campanulatus
November 1, 2006 : Metrosideros excelsa 'Fire Mountain'
Keywords: Myrtaceae | Metrosideros excelsa 'Fire Mountain' | cultivated in Gold Coast, Australia
Thank you to “ginger749” on the UBC Botanical Garden Forums for submitting this photograph from Gold Coast, Australia. You can see the original, larger image in this thread. Many thanks – nice to see some late spring flowers from the southern hemisphere!
The story of the species Metrosideros excelsa or PÅhutukawa is doubly sad. Once fairly widespread in coastal areas of the North Island of New Zealand, the population of plants is in decline. This is due in part to a voracious alien, the Australian brushtail possum. Exhaustive details about this and other threats to the native New Zealand Metrosideros species are available from Project Crimson.
Despite its decline in New Zealand, the plant is flourishing in South Africa – so much so that it is now considered an invasive alien; Our Native Plant Invaders from the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture has more on this threat to the fynbos.
The University of Melbourne's Horticulture program had a “Plant of the Month” feature (it seems to be defunct) – it once featured Metrosideros excelsa.
Posted by Daniel Mosquin at November 1, 2006 12:00 AM
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Comments
Posted by: Maire Smith at November 1, 2006 1:46 AM
This is a prolific grower here along the central coastal areas of California, and seem to bloom year round. I have heard it commonly called "Bottlebrush Tree".
Posted by: Sheila Pickerill at November 1, 2006 5:38 AM
Well, I'd have to agree that this species is widespread in cultivation and, as such, is in no danger of disappearing forever. However, I think it is a fairly easy argument to make that preservation of natural, wild populations is still required.
Posted by: Daniel Mosquin 
at November 1, 2006 9:49 AM
Bottlebrush is the name usually given to Callistemon species http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bottlebrush, which are also quite common garden plants, and have a similarity to New Zealand Christmas bush or tree , the common name of Metrosideros excelsa.
Posted by: Ken at November 1, 2006 3:04 PM
Sheila, the plants you see can't be pohutukawa, if they bloom all year round. The tree is nicknamed 'New Zealand Christmas tree' because it flowers once a year, generally at the height of summer (our Christmas).
'Bottlebrush' is a name normally given to Australian plants, which do have similar flowers, but are not the same genus.
Posted by: Maire Smith at November 1, 2006 9:46 PM
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Botany Photo of the Day is a project of the UBC Botanical Garden and Centre for Plant Research, located in Vancouver, British Columbia Canada. UBC BGCPR is a department of the Faculty of Land and Food Systems within The University of British Columbia.
I know the wild pohutukawa up north are in trouble, but it's hard to see them as endangered. They seem to be the most popular tree for city councils all over the country.