Metrosideros excelsa Dwarf

Common Name:
Dwarf New Zealand Christmas Bush

Description:
Metrosideros excelsa Dwarf, commonly referred to as Dwarf New Zealand Christmas Bush, is a compact and hardy form of the iconic Metrosideros excelsa, prized for its striking scarlet-red flowers and glossy grey-green foliage. While the standard species can grow into a large tree, the dwarf form remains much smaller and more shrub-like, making it perfect for modern gardens, hedging, and containers. Flowering from late spring into summer, it bursts with brilliant, brush-like blooms that are highly attractive to nectar-feeding birds and bees.

Well-suited to coastal and urban gardens in Melbourne, this dwarf variety thrives in full sun and tolerates wind, salt spray, drought, and light frost once established. Its dense, bushy growth makes it ideal as a feature shrub, informal hedge, or compact screening plant. The evergreen foliage holds colour year-round, with new growth often tinged bronze. It responds well to pruning and shaping and is perfect for contemporary, coastal, and native-style gardens.

Form:
*Shrub – Medium
*Shrub – Small

Mature Size:
*Height: 1.5–2 metres
*Width: 1.5–2 metres

Aspect:
*Full Sun
*Part Shade

Flowering:
*Flowers in Late Spring
*Flowers in Summer

Flower Colour:
*Bright red
*Scarlet

Key Attributes:
*Suitable for Pots
*Drought Tolerant
*Frost Tolerant (light)
*Bird Attracting
*Bee Attracting
*Evergreen
*Low Maintenance
*Coastal Tolerant
*Wind Tolerant
*Suitable for Hedging
*Responds Well to Pruning
*Excellent Feature or Specimen Plant

Toxicity:
*Non-toxic to humans
*Non-toxic to pets

Companion Plants:
*Westringia ‘Smokey’
*Correa alba
*Lomandra ‘Lime Tuff’
*Leucophyta brownii
*Grevillea ‘Scarlet Sprite’