rata tree

Did you know

The rata and pohutukawa belong in the myrtle family of trees. Other members include manuka, kanuka and swamp maire.

Rata trees have glossy dark green leaves and trunks that are often gnarled and twisted. However they are best known for their brilliant red flowers that appear in profusion from November to January, depending on location, and can be seen from some distance away.

The trees tend to flower well only once every few years and seem to favour the high rainfall conditions of the West Coast.

Native birds such as the tui, bellbird and kaka all benefit from the presence of rata trees in the forest.

The two main types of rata are the northern and southern. Bartlett's rata is endangered and very few remain.

Northern rata

Northern rata (Metrosideros robusta) is one of New Zealand's tallest flowering trees. It usually begins life as an epiphyte (or plant perched on a host tree) high in the forest canopy. Its roots grow down to the ground, finally enclosing the host tree and producing a huge tree up to 25 metres high with a trunk of 2.5 metres through. It is found throughout the North Island and in the South Island, south to about Westport.

Southern rata

Southern rata flowers

Southern rata (Metrosideros umbellata) grows from a seed in the ground to become a tree up to 15 metres high with a trunk 1 metre through.

Southern rata is the most widespread of all New Zealand rata. It is found from sea level to 760 metres. It is distributed from high Northland and Coromandel outcrops, to subantarctic Auckland Islands where it forms the country's southernmost forests. The most dense