Some people contend that the New Zealand Pohutukawa is the same as the California Bottle Brush. not so - they are completely different - check it out...
Pohutukawa up close:
The flower "puffs" up and out.
The Bottle Brush up close:
More akin to the kitchen tool - a longer flower.
The Pohutukawa is a large tree giving off a very impressive display at Christmas time, (which is summer time in New Zealand as it is in the southern hemisphere). The flowers can be seen from November to January - peaking in late December:
...whereas the Bottle Brush is more of a bush or smaller tree:
The Pohutukawa is also known as Metrosideros Excelsa (from the Myrtle family) and is native to New Zealand. Other trees such as guavas, feijoas (a magnificent fruit!) and eucalyptus are also in the Myrtle family. There are actually twelve Metrosideros species endemic to New Zealand. It is an evergreen - found mostly in the coastal regions of the North Island. It is drought resistant and smog tolerant. Even though the Pohutukawa can grow quite large, it is often found along rocky cliffs - sometimes holding an almost vertical position in seemingly impossible barren, dry, soils and whipped by salt-laden winds.
The largest Pohutukawa is found at Te Araroa on the East Coast. It is 20 meters high (65 feet), and spreads out to 38 meters (124 feet). The Pohutukawa can also be trimmed and used as a beautiful hedge shrub.
The Pohutukawa has been successfully introduced in Australia, South Africa and parts of California, but the roots can be rather invasive and it has been known to cause damage. At one time, the durable Pohutukawa timber, leaves and bark were used for ship building and a variety of medicinal purposes (such as a cure for dysentery).
The Bottle Brush is the Callistemon Viminalis - native to Australia, but also found in California. It can grow up to 15 meters (49 feet). The Bottle Brush is also a drought tolerant, evergreen species. It attracts bees, butterflies and a variety of birds. The leaves of the Lemon Bottlebrush can be soaked in hot water and made into a tea - it has a slight citrus fragrance.
I believe that the Pohutukawa Is the perfect "Christmas Tree." A stunning sight during the hot summer days of the Southern Hemisphere Christmas season. Just one more way that New Zealand is unique and beautiful.
A reader from California - Hilarie Kelly, has sent a couple of pictures of her
ōhiʻa lehua. This is another species from the Myrtaceae family of trees (Metrosideros polymorpha). This tree is from Hawaii. Well done Hilarie!! It is wonderful to see this cousin thriving in the USA.
