There is Much To Learn
About New Zealand Pohutukawa

Let us tell you about New Zealand pohutukawa. It’s 7am on a January morning as we drive down the narrow cliff road. The rising sun warms our arms and the New Zealand scenery spills over all around us in rich green flourishing tumbles of nature. The neat flat road winds through the landscape like a grey gull wheeling low across the land.

Another perfect day to travel in New Zealand.

In the distance is a shimmering smudge of red, a lipstick kiss on the New Zealand scenery. As we get closer the smudge blossoms into crimson lined cliffs and sands. Along the coast edge are plumes of flowers atop curled gnarled trunks and branches. This is the Pohutukawa tree with leaves that are shiny and dark green on top, silvery white underneath.

As New Zealand native plants go the Pohutukawa is one of the most recognised plants of the whole wonderful New Zealand flora.

As a coastal tree it is amazingly adaptable and often found clinging to the craggy sea drenched cliffs of the north island coastline. Its natural range is north of a line stretching from New Plymouth to Gisborne. The Pohutukawa also grows on the shores of lakes in the Rotorua area.

About the NZ pohutukawa – how big!?

The tree has a dome like spread of leaves and flowers and can grow up to twenty metres in height. A Pohutukawa at Te Araroa on the East Coast is reputed to be the largest in the country, with a height of 20 metres and a branch spread of 38 metres!

But on exposed rock faces with barren conditions it will at times grow little more than a metre in height but still flower profusely.

About the NZ pohutukawa – when does it flower?

The Pohutukawa flowers from November to January with a peak in mid to late December. It’s brilliant crimson flowers cover the tree,. There can be variation between individual trees in the timing of flowering and in the blossom color.

About The pohutukawa Tree – Anything else!

This wonderful tree is a star of the New Zealand scenery. The Pohutukawa has shown itself to be adept at rooting itself in lava fields, notably on Rangitoto Island, a volcano in Auckland Harbour.

It also has the nickname New Zealand Christmas Tree for its rich flowering during the month of December.. The early settlers first applied the now common name of Christmas tree when they used pohutukawa blossom to decorate their homes during December. When the blossoms fall in January the ground and coastal roads are covered with a carpet of soft crimson petals.

More about the New Zealand Pohutukawa when we return from our trip!

Return from About New Zealand Pohutukawa to New Zealand Scenery



Return from About New Zealand Pohutukawa to the Home Page