Cultivation
The Pōhutukawa is popular in cultivation, and there are fine examples in most North Island coastal cities. Vigorous and easy to grow, the tree flourishes well south of its natural range, and has naturalised in the Wellington area and in the north of the South Island. It has also naturalised on Norfolk Island to the north. The Pōhutukawa has been introduced to other countries with mild-to-warm climates, including south-eastern Australia, where it is naturalising on coastal cliffs near Sydney. In coastal California, it is a popular street and lawn tree, but has caused concern in San Francisco where its "incredibly invasive" root systems are blamed for destroying sewer lines and sidewalks. In parts of South Africa, the Pōhutukawa grows so well that it is regarded as an invasive species. The Spanish city of La Coruña has adopted the Pōhutukawa as a floral emblem.
Read more about this topic: Metrosideros Excelsa
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