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Products > Metrosideros collina 'Springfire'   Metrosideros collina 'Springfire' - Lehua    [2nd Image] Habit and Cultural Information Category: Shrub Family: Myrtaceae (Myrtles) Origin: Pacific Islands Evergreen: Yes Flower Color: Orange Red Bloomtime: Spring/Summer Synonyms: [M. 'Spring Fire'] Height: 12-20 feet Width: 6-8 feet Exposure: Sun or Shade Seaside: Yes Drought Tolerant: Yes Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs Winter Hardiness: 20-25° F Metrosideros collina 'Spring Fire' (Lehua) - This is a compact, upright, evergreen large shrub or small tree can grow to at least 20 feet tall by 10 feet wide with pale orange-red flowers blooming spring and summer. Plant in a sunny to semi-shaded area but expect heavier flowering in full sun. Give average irrigation and avoid overly wet conditions. Tolerates coastal conditions. Hardy to about 20 degrees F. 'Springfire', as the name implies has its main flowering in springtime when it often can cover the bush completely with characteristic Metrosideros shaped flowers which are lacking petals but have tufts of stamens. These flowers attract nectar feeding birds, insects and butterflies. A very useful plant as a large container specimen or for a hedge plant or even trained up as a small tree. When we first received this plant the height was listed as 6 feet tall but our 12 year old garden plant is now pushing 18 feet tall. By trimming this plant can be maintained as a hedge or in a more natural form from 4 to 5 feet tall. Although most Metrosideros are natives of New Zealand, this plant was a reportedly a selection of Metrosideros collina. The story was that an Australian nurseryman collected this plant in the Hawaiian Islands. The Metrosideros collina complex extends over much of the South Pacific and some consider the plants in the Hawaiian Island chain to to Metrosideros polymorpha or M. collina ssp. polymorpha.  The description above is based on our research and observations of this plant growing in our nursery and in our own and other Santa Barbara gardens. We would appreciate hearing from anyone who has additional information or disagrees with what we have written.