Metrosideros collina Thomasii

The Metrosideros x thomasii, sometimes marketed as Metrosideros collina 'Spring Fire', is an evergreen bush from New Zealand appreciated for its spectacular red flowering in spring. Suitable for coastal gardens, it shows great resistance to difficult conditions such as drought, sea spray, and salty winds. This beautiful hybrid, not very hardy, can also be grown in a container, allowing it to overwinter like a citrus plant. It will make a magnificent feature to place on an exotic terrace.

The Metrosideros x thomasii is a hybrid of uncertain origin, probably derived from M. collina. Ben Swane, from Swane Nurseries in Sydney, first cultivated this plant under the name Metrosideros thomasii (invalid name), before it was renamed. In the 1980s, cuttings were sent to New Zealand to Malcolm Woolmore, who propagated and marketed the plant as Metrosideros collina 'Spring Fire'. In 1998, it was introduced to the United States by Monrovia Nursery under the name 'Springfire'. The Metrosideros collina complex extends across the South Pacific, with plants once considered subspecies in Hawaii now classified as Metrosideros polymorpha. Like all Metrosideros, "Thomasii" belongs to the Myrtaceae family.

The Metrosideros x thomasii was selected for its abundant bright pink-red pompom-shaped flowers and its compact, upright form. In the ground, it reaches 4 to 6 meters in height by 3 to 5 meters wide. Its leaves, evergreen in winter, are small, ovate, leathery, and silvery green, while its young stems can display silvery reflections. Flowering, mainly occurring in spring, consists of large red flowers with prominent stamens, resembling pompons that attract numerous pollinators. Flowers may also sporadically appear throughout the year.
The Metrosideros collina 'Spring Fire' is not very hardy and cannot tolerate temperatures below -5/-6 °C. Outside of the mildest coastal regions, where it can be planted in the ground, it is recommended to grow it in a container to protect it from frost.

The Metrosideros x thomasii, on the Atlantic or Mediterranean coast, is interesting for creating dense hedges or for use as a focal point in a large shrub border. In colder regions, it grows very well in a large container, which will help protect it during winter. Pair it with plants such as Phormiums, Cordylines, Agapanthus, and Echium fastuosum, which share the same soil and exposure requirements.