ARTICLE : Six reasons why NOT to plant pohutukawa in the Wellington Region

 December 2002 – Six reasons why NOT to plant pohutukawa in the Wellington Region

1. POHUTUKAWA DOES NOT NATURALLY OCCUR IN WELLINGTON

Pohutukawa, Metrosideros excelsa, is a NZ native species, but does not naturally occur south of the volcanic plateau, i.e it does not belong in Wellington.   This is why you will not find it among the recommended plants listed in the Wellington Regional Council booklet, Wellington Regional Native Plant Guide 1999.

2. POHUTUKAWA IS AN INVASIVE “WEED” IN PARTS OF THIS REGION

A further cause of concern is that pohutukawa, though a beautiful tree, has become an invasive “weed” on the Wellington region’s coastline and in waste places because it has self-seeded so successfully.   It has taken over many of the ecological sites where Wellington’s own northern rata, Metrosideros robusta, rightly belongs.

3. POHUTUKAWA IS OCCUPYING SITES WHERE NORTHERN RATA SHOULD BE

During the early Colonial phase, settlers burnt huge tracts of northern rata, Wellington’s crimson-flowering “Xmas tree”.   Later, noting how bare the hills had become, they brought down pohutukawa from northern regions and planted it extensively.   Thus, northern rata in the Wellington area is now reduced to small, remnant populations and the Department of Conservation has written a strategy for its recovery.

4. RISK OF LOSING NORTHERN RATA THROUGH HYBRIDISATION

Another concern is that pohutukawa, being closely related to northern rata, has the potential to hybridise, and this is already happening in Wellington.   Hundreds of seedlings thought to be northern rata and recently propagated in a Forest and Bird nursery turned out to be hybrids with pohutukawa.   Around the Wellington region, which includes Porirua, there are still some pure stands of northern rata, but botanists advise that the widespread planting of pohutukawa, out of its natural range, threatens the survival of northern rata as a separate species.

5. POHUTUKAWA INHIBITS THE GROWTH OF OTHER PLANTS

Pohutukawa is known to produce chemical substances in its roots and leaves which inhibit the growth of other plants and can alter the soil composition significantly.

6. NORTHERN RATA’S FLORAL DISPLAY IS MAGNIFICENT

Pohutukawa is a fine tree, but so is northern rata, producing a magnificent display of crimson, nectarbearing flowers in December.   Anyone seeing it in bloom, such as in Lower Hutt this summer, could not fail to wonder why pohutukawa should be favoured over Northern rata.

A CAMPAIGN NEEDED ?

I think what is needed is for interested people to ask for northern rata in their local plant nurseries, and not to be fobbed off by being offered hybrids or pohutukawa instead.   REMEMBER, IF IT HASN’T GOT THAT NOTCH AT THE TIP OF ITS LEAVES, IT AINT NORTHERN RATA!

Barbara Mitcalfe

 December 2002 – The iron-hearted trees :   pohutukawa and rata

The Project Crimson Trust has been encouraged to write a comprehensive book on our Christmas trees, pohutukawa and rata.   I have been given the honour of writing the book.   I want to reflect the many interests that people have in these trees.   The success of Dancing Leaves: the story of NZ’s cabbage tree, ti kouka shows that many readers enjoy comprehensive yet accessible description of our important plants.   Hence Iron-hearted trees will be a detailed account of the natural history of pohutukawa and rata (northern, southern and Bartlett’s), including their origin and relationships, ecology and structural adaptations, and their importance to Maori and Pakeha in practical, spiritual and aesthetic ways.   Project Crimson grew from concern about the loss of these chiefly trees, and the book will explore their conservation needs.

I seek your help with stories and memories of pohutukawa and rata trees significant to your family and district:   important landmark trees, historical and present uses of the timber and other products, accounts of crimson Christmas holidays on northern beaches, wildlife activities in the flowering canopy, paintings and poems stimulated by their beauty and the landscapes they create, examples of good or shocking pruning jobs, and unnecessary losses of trees, Arbor Day and other planting events.   any observations or records that may add to the overall story.   Please tell me about any people who may have stories to share.   Your contributions will be used to weave an understanding about how these trees have enriched our lives.

Iron-hearted trees will be a large-format book in full colour, emulating the stature of pohutukawa and rata.   For a more detailed outline of the book, and to provide your stories and memories, contact me.

Philip Simpson Faulkner Road, Pohara RD 1, Takaka Ph 03 525 6223 E-mail: philip@goldenbay.net.nz