Metrosideros excelsa ‘Maori Princess’ is a highly regarded cultivar of the New Zealand pōhutukawa, valued for its brilliant crimson-red flowers and dense, glossy green foliage. It forms an upright, evergreen tree that typically grows to around 6–10 metres tall, making it well suited for feature planting, coastal gardens, and urban landscapes.
Flowering occurs in early to mid-summer, producing a vivid display that attracts birds and pollinators while adding strong seasonal colour. The tree also provides excellent year-round structure due to its rich foliage and branching form.
‘Maori Princess’ is a hardy, low-maintenance selection that thrives in full sun and performs particularly well in exposed coastal conditions. It is highly tolerant of wind, salt spray, and dry soils once established, making it a reliable choice for a wide range of New Zealand environments
Currently 1.8m-2m+ tall
Metrosiderous Maori Princess
Botanical Name Metrosiderous Maori Princess Common Name pōhutukawa
Family Myrtaceae Type Evergreen coastal Tree Origin New Zealand Mature Height 6-10m Mature Spread 3-4m Sun Requirements Full sun Soil well-drained soil Flowering Crimson red bottlebrush like flowers Wind Tolerance Good — well adapted to coastal environments
Frost Tolerance tolerates light frost (young plants are more sensitive)
Drought Tolerance Moderate — copes with short dry periods but performs best in consistently moist Growth Rate moderate growth rate Maintenance low Conservation Status Not Threatened
