A massive pohutukawa in full Christmas blossom, by the sea.

Coastal Tree with a Warning Attached

A North Island tree, Pohutukawa likes mild coastal districts, even cliff faces. It is killed by hard inland frosts below -5C. It is worshipped for its Christmas bloom of scarlet flowers, but is a general menace as an urban tree both here and in California. This is because it grows so fast and big, always sneaking up on you, like a pepped-up Rata. So unruly indeed, that it rapidly blocks the neighbours' expensive view of the Waitemata* Harbour (*fill in name of picturesque North Island harbour here). These trees can lead to litigation and even midnight chainsaw raids. Developers carelessly risk huge fines to remove big old ones from their planned building sites. And city councils would happily run every last Pohutukawa out of town - as the wandering roots explore into drainage systems and block them up, costing very big dollars to remove, as happened in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Such is the warning label on this gigantic beauty. Rural planting only is recommended; and then only if they are far from ocean views, drains, neighbours or houses. They are grand coastal shelter and a very flash enormous hedge especially at Christmas. Pohutukawa gives good animal shelter and shade, and a source of summer nectar for great, health-filled honey, similar to rata, its cousin.

Dare I say it? Firewood...

Pohutukawa is somewhat of a sacred cow in the North Island, yet South Islanders find them useful as hot burning firewood. Sacrilege to some perhaps, but on the West Coast, over twenty years, some decent sized side branches can be trimmed off for hardwood log burners and winter treats. The tree sprouts back happily like a eucalypt, (its aussie cousin), and the wood burns just as hot. It's basically fast growing Rata.

One winter I was warmed by the wood from a rare yellow-flowering Kermadec Pohutukawa, pruned for the DOC office in town as it was blocking their whole entranceway. Probably the most southerly of that particular subtropical specimen, which was obviously collected and put there by some proud ecologist a few years back. It shows that unexpected native woods can have unexpected uses.

So apart from being strong, durable hardwood for shipbuilding, the pohutukawa is in the running for being one of the faster growing and hotter burning native trees for firewood coppice. No need to attack an old protected tree: grow a hundred new ones and plan ahead! But definitely plant them "away over there", and admire the blossoms from a safe distance.





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