TOPIARY / Metrosideros excelsa 'Mini Christmas' (Sphere)
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Topiary Mini Christmas (Sphere) / Topiary Dwarf New Zealand Christmas Bush (Sphere)
Botanical Name: Metrosideros excelsa 'Mini Christmas' (Sphere)
Family: Myrtaceae
Origin: New Zealand (coastal)
Plant Type: Evergreen shrub (clipped into a sphere)
Overview
A compact pohutukawa bred for small spaces and topiary work, ‘Mini Christmas’ clips into a neat, salt-tough sphere that thrives in Adelaide’s Mediterranean climate. Leathery grey-green leaves carry a silvery cast, and brilliant scarlet “powder-puff” flowers in late spring–summer bring birds and year-round wow in pots or ground.
Key Features
- Mature Size: 0.6–1.0 m H × 0.6–1.0 m W (sphere canopy); untrimmed shrubs to ~1.5–2 m H × 1–1.5 m W
- Growth Rate: 20-40 cm per year under good conditions
- Foliage: Small, leathery grey-green leaves with silvery undersides; dense, tidy branching
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Flowers: Vivid scarlet brush flowers mainly late spring–summer; occasional light off-season flush in warm years
- Seasonal Interest: Evergreen silver-green structure, spectacular summer bloom, subtle winter bronze tints
- Wildlife Value: Excellent for pollinators; attracts honeyeaters and bees for nectar
- Tolerance: Coastal wind & salt tolerant; heat & drought tolerant once established; light frost (protect young plants from hard frosts); dislikes waterlogging
- Planting Density: Topiary row: space 0.8–1.2 m; Specimen/pots: one per 40–50 cm container
- Pet Friendly: Yes — generally regarded as non-toxic
Where It Works Best
- Sunlight: Full sun to light part shade (full sun = tightest ball & best colour)
- Soil: Well-drained sandy/loam; improve clay and/or mound; avoid soggy spots
- Water Needs: Establishment: 2 deep soaks/week for 8–12 weeks. Established: deep soak every 10–14 days in summer (more in heatwaves/containers); rarely in winter if dry
- Maintenance: Tip-clip 3–6×/yr to maintain the sphere and encourage tight growth; light trim after flowering to tidy; slow-release feed in early spring; rotate pots quarterly for even sun
- Lifespan: 20–30+ years
- Climate Zones: Suited to temperate & Mediterranean SA, superb in coastal suburbs
- Soil pH: Slightly acidic to mildly alkaline
Landscape & Design Ideas
- Statement spheres flanking paths, gates and coastal entries
- Premium container features for courtyards and pool terraces
- Repeated along low walls for a modern, bird-friendly coastal look
Why You Will Love It
A miniature pohutukawa with big impact: glossy silver-green foliage, spectacular red bloom, and a tight, low-maintenance sphere that laughs off wind and salt. Perfect for Adelaide’s heat and coastal conditions—and for adding Christmas-in-summer cheer to your garden.