Metrosideros kermadecensis 'Variegata'

At 06:58 PM 12/20/00 -0800, Jason D wrote:
>Metrosideros growing in San Francisco seems often to be a mix of M. 
>excelsa and M. kermadecensis. The former is reputed to have a more 
>distinct & showy
>seasonal bloom while the latter blooms sporadically. I think the former 
>can be identified by its longer leaves and greater propensity to form 
>aerial roots in
>the SF climate. Much underused right on the oceanside, in my opinion, but 
>perhaps overused as a sidewalk street tree, where its dense foliage is not 
>always
>what's called for in this miserably windy and chilly climate. Nonetheless, 
>I appreciate every one I see.
>-Jason

Jason -

I also appreciate them.  There were somewhat overplanted at one point many 
years ago, but they fell out of the trade almost completely in the last 10 
years!  When I need one for a client, it is always a challenge!

I have M. kermadecensis 'Variegata' growing in my own yard.  Its very 
rounded leaves are broadly edged in creamy yellow, fading to greenish.  It 
was quite slow in growth (at first I thought it was just a bush) but is now 
growing a good crown quite easily.  It is perhaps 10-12ft. tall.  I enjoy 
it immensely, especially when it puts on a flush of new growth at the 
branch tips, clothing the tree in pale greenish-cream.  The flowers are 
almost never seen, and are few clustered, red, often passing without 
notice.  Old leaves often change to red in color before falling, causing me 
to think perhaps there is a flower there instead.  I routinely cut stray 
branches for flower arrangements - they'd make a great florist item!

My plant came from a cutting I took off a friend's bush.  She had no idea 
what it was, and it had been pruned into a small bush routinely before she 
moved in.  She took it out to plant other things.  I don't know where you 
would find this plant locally - I've never seen it for sale.  A few local 
mad collectors seem to have other types of variegated Metrosideros (I've 
seen them and heard them discussed), but I don't know much about these.

Regards,
Sean O.

h o r t u l u s   a p t u s     -    'a garden suited to its purpose'
Sean A. O'Hara        fax (707) 667-1173     sean.ohara@groupmail.com
710 Jean Street, Oakland, CA 94610-1459, U.S.A.
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