Metrosideros Excelsa 'Mini Christmas'

Dwarf New Zealand Christmas Tree

Botanical Name: Metrosideros excelsa 'Mini Christmas'
Family: Myrtaceae
Origin: New Zealand (coastal)
Plant Type: Evergreen shrub

Overview

A compact New Zealand Christmas bush that loves Adelaide and South Australian conditions—sun, coastal breezes and heat. ‘Mini Christmas’ stays naturally tidy and bushy, then bursts into vivid red brush flowers from late spring into summer. Perfect for low-maintenance hedging, feature pots and second-line coastal plantings where you want colour and resilience with minimal fuss.

Key Features

• Mature Size: 1.5–3 m H × 1–2 m W (compact, easily clipped)
• Growth Rate: 30-60 cm per year under good conditions
• Foliage: Glossy mid- to deep-green leaves; new growth fresh lime-green, maturing darker; in strong sun/coastal wind older foliage can show olive/bronze tints (normal)
• Flowers: Bright red “pincushion”/bottlebrush clusters in late spring–summer; nectar-rich for pollinators
  
• Seasonal Interest: Evergreen structure year-round with spring–summer fireworks of red bloom; seed heads and textured branching give winter interest
• Wildlife Value: Good for Pollinators; attracts bees and nectar-feeding birds (honeyeaters)
• Tolerance: Drought-Tolerant (once established), Heat-Tolerant, Coastal-Tolerant (salt & wind), Wind-Tolerant; Light–moderate frost; Clay-Tolerant if well-drained
• Planting Density: Shrub borders/hedges: 1 plant per 1 m (dense) or 1 per 1.5 m (looser)
• Pet Friendly: Generally regarded as non-toxic to pets

Where It Works Best

• Sunlight: Full sun to part shade (best flowering in full sun)
• Soil: Well-drained loam or sandy loam; improve heavier clay with organic matter/grit
• Water Needs: Establishment: 2 deep soaks/week for 8–12 weeks. Established: deep soak every 10–14 days in summer (weekly in heatwaves); monthly in winter if dry
• Maintenance: Light trim after flowering to keep compact; tip-prune young plants; mulch in spring; use a low-phosphorus/native-safe feed in early spring
• Lifespan: 15-25 years
• Climate Zones: Suited to temperate & Mediterranean SA gardens, including coastal Adelaide sites (second-line and sheltered front-line positions)
• Soil pH: Slightly acidic to neutral preferred; tolerates mildly alkaline with sharp drainage

Landscape & Design Ideas

• Coastal hedge or screen for Adelaide seaside blocks—salt/wind-hardy with brilliant late spring–summer colour
• Feature in large courtyard pots; clip lightly after bloom to keep a compact dome and enjoy flowers up close
• Drought-smart mass planting on hot verges or banks for a tough, low-care, pollinator-friendly display

Why You Will Love It

‘Mini Christmas’ gives South Australian gardens that iconic pōhutukawa look—fiery red flowers and glossy foliage—without the size of the big tree. It’s tough, coastal-capable and low-maintenance, so it thrives through Adelaide’s heat and sea air once established. With year-round structure and a spectacular warm-season show, it’s a dependable, high-impact choice for hedges, features and pots.