Life Span
Annual
Perennial
Type
Tree
Tree
Origin
New Zealand
North America, Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Texas, Canada
Types
Metrosideros excelsa
-
Number of Varieties
83
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Coastal Regions, hedge rows, Woodlands
Dappled Shade, Sunny Edge, Woodland Garden Canopy
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-123-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-9
10-1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 16, 17, 23, 24
7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
910.00 cm1,520.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
610.00 cm1,220.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Red, Crimson
Yellow green, Chartreuse
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Brown, Sandy Brown
Green, Indigo, Black
Leaf Color in Spring
Light Green, Dark Green, Gray
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green, Gray
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green, Gray
Yellow, Red, Orange, Yellow green, Bronze, Orange Red
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green, Gray
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Acicular
Ovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer
Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
-
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires regular watering
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Nitrogen, Phosphorous
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Foliage diseases
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds, Hummingbirds
Insects
Allergy
-
Dermatitis, Diaphoresis
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Used as Christmas tree, Used for making hedges
-
Beauty Benefits
-
Skin Problems
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Astringent, Dysentry
Alterative, Anodyne, Antirheumatic, Antiseptic, Carminative, Diaphoretic, Diuretic
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Wood
Leaves
Other Uses
Application in Furniture
Used as a condiment, Used in making tea, Used to flavour soups
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Shade Trees, Street Trees, Tropical
Shade Trees, Street Trees
Botanical Name
METROSIDEROS excelsa
SASSAFRAS albidum
Common Name
New Zealand Christmas Tree, Pohutukawa
Sassafras
In Hindi
pohutukawa
Sassafras
In German
pohutukawa
Sassafras
In French
pohutukawa
Sassafras
In Spanish
pohutukawa
Sasafrás
In Greek
pohutukawa
σασάφρα
In Portuguese
pohutukawa
sassafrás
In Polish
pohutukawa
Sassafras
In Latin
pohutukawa
Sassafras
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
-
Magnoliophyta
Class
-
Magnoliopsida
Order
Myrtales
Laurales
Family
Myrtaceae
Lauraceae
Genus
Metrosideros
Sassafras
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Magnoliids
Tribe
-
Cinnamomeae
Subfamily
-
Lauroideae
Number of Species
124
1
27800
👆🏻