Re: (Metrosideros) Bloom seasons in northern and southern hemispheres

Jason D wrote:
>
> 2) What does the bloom of the actual South African native
> Metrosideros (M. angustifolia) look like? The few plants I've seen
> here in California have never even hinted they would bloom.

Hi Jason
I must admit I have only just learnt of the existence of this species.
None of my books so much as mention it. Quite possibly it is not very
garden worthy. After all there are a number of NZ speices which are just
dull white flowered slender climbers which only the fanatic would want
to include in a garden..
>
> 3) As I'm sure I've typed on about ad nauseum, the question of
> Metrosideros excelsa flowering here in San Francisco has interested
> me for a while. There's a general vague peak in late spring and early
> summer here, but not terribly distinct except in certain individual
> trees, and I've wondered why. I decided, based on leaf shape and the
> sporadic quality of bloom, that most of the trees here are actually
> Metrosideros kermadecensis or hybrids between it and M. excelsa, since >M. kermadecensis is known for its sporadic flowering. Perhaps there's
> something about our summers being cooler and drier than in North
> Island, too, that prevents the display Pohutukawa is known for in
> habitat.

I am inclined to think too that hybridity is the problem as you have surmised, especially as the odd individual (presumably the pure species) performs better.

I think it interesting in this connection to call attention to my quote in another posting about concern in NZ for the possibility of local unwanted natural hybridizing between these two species..

I doubt though temperature differences are seriously involved. I don't think California is likely to be any cooler around the summer solstice than Wellington is. Its highest temp at this time of year would certainly very rarely exceed 24 C (75F) and at this temp we get the most glorious concerted show from every tree around, lasting about a month, and generally dazzling the eye..As to California being drier, this would probably be an advantage. Wellington tends to be rather on the moist side around Christmas, while the original habitat could already be quite summer dry.

You can't really generalize anyway about the climate of the North Island, as its long rather thin shape means there is around five hundred miles difference between Wellington at its southern tip and the tree's natural southern latitude boundary.
(a difference between a mid-temperate and a warm temperate climate in fact).

Although our country is small, it is so long and narrow there is actually a difference of about a thousand miles and around 10 degrees of latitude between our most northerly and most southerly points, not to mention the tempering effect of a huge coastline (I gather it is not very different from of that of the entire USA!) Add to this a good deal of high ground in both islands, including a range in South Island quite high enough to create a considerable rainshadow and even a trace of continental-type climate and we have here a lot of opportunity to indulge in a variety of gardening styles and a wide range of diverse plants according to where we live.

Moira
--
Tony & Moira Ryan,
Wainuiomata, North Island, NZ.     Pictures of our garden at:-
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/cherie1/Garden/TonyandMoira/index.htm
NEW PICTURES ADDED 4/Feb/2004

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