About Metrosideros carminea W.R.B.Oliv.
Metrosideros carminea, commonly called carmine rātā, prefers warm, moist habitats. It can grow 15 metres (49 feet) long or longer, with a main stem several centimetres in diameter. Its small, thick, glossy, pointed leaves are usually widest at their middle; small, rounded, shiny deep-green leaves grow on reddish new stems. Carmine rātā flowers from late winter to mid-spring, producing vibrant displays of bright red flowers that grow in groups at stem ends. Its seed capsules ripen between late spring and early autumn. It climbs in the same way as ivy: it produces short adventitious roots to cling to the trunks of host trees, penetrating and holding to rough surfaces. Juvenile climbing shoots grow quickly and rapidly extend the plant’s length. Most short clinging roots die after about one year, so when the vine matures, thick, twisted, rope-like stems hang free from the host, resembling thick ropes. This climbing rātā species is often cultivated for its bright early-spring flowers. It is generally available from most retail nurseries in New Zealand, though most plants sold are grown from adult cuttings, which grow into shrubs rather than climbers. Carmine rātā prefers a moist, semi-shady position sheltered from frost. There are several cultivars of M. carminea. Metrosideros ‘Red Carpet’ flowers freely in October, which is late spring in New Zealand. Another cultivar, Metrosideros 'Carousel', is an attractive dwarf shrub suitable for use as a groundcover. It has glossy lime-green leaves with broad gold margins and small carmine-red flowers that bloom in spring, and grows to 80 cm in height. Metrosideros 'Ferris Wheel' has glossy deep green leaves, bears bright carmine red flowers with golden stamens through spring, and grows to 90 cm (35 in) in height. Generally, only seed-grown seedling plants will develop into climbers. Plants propagated vegetatively from mature specimens, typically by cuttings or layering, usually grow into small shrubs or groundcovers. For this reason, all the cultivars described above do not grow as climbers.
