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| Metrosideros excelsa for Mediterranean climates | |
The New Zealand Christmas Tree or Metrosideros excelsa (Myrtaceae) has good potential for cultivation as a pot plant or garden plant in Mediterranean regions. The plant is very tolerant of coastal exposure and is able to tolerate acid soils. In its natural habitat it forms a low-branching rounded shrub, growing to a mature height of about 20m. Later its bark become plaited and attractive and the branches usually develop curtains of long pendulous aerial roots. These enable the plan to cling to rocky cliffs and slopes. It has attractive small leaves bright green on the upper surface and green green underneath, slightly hary especially on the upper surface. In December the nornally fairly dull looking foliage becomes bright red. The attractive inflorescences are bright red. Trials at at the Dept. Sci. Delle Prod. Vegetali (University degli Studi di Bari) have demonstrated that M. excelsa is moderately well adapted to the Mediterranean climate where it forms a rustic plant resistant to long dry periods and insect pests. The plant is susceptible to spring frosts. Commercial varieties ‘Moon Maiden’, ‘Pink Lady’, ‘Scarlet Pimpernel’ and ‘Traiti’ were trialled. ‘Mood Maiden’ is a mutation of M. aurea. The trials examined the growth and branching habit, the initaition and duration of flowering. Plants need high light levels for growth and especially for flowering. They are propagated via cuttings, need a well-drained substrate and frequent irrigation and feeding. Further experimentation is needed to fully understand the climatic conditions necessary to obtain full, regular flowering. In conclusion Metrosideros excelsa is a potentially useful new introduction for Mediterranean gardens and as a container plant. www.unba.it |
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