New Zealand’s native rata and pohutukawa trees can be found across the country. Here are 3 tips to help you tell apart these common trees.
When I first moved to New Zealand 5 years ago I was overwhelmed with the sheer beauty of the country. I loved walking along remote, desolate beaches and wandering in thick native forest. However, I was clueless when it came to telling apart the native trees since many of them are endemic to New Zealand and I’d never seen them before. These 3 tips will help you identify and tell apart rata or pohutukawa trees like a local.
Rata, Southern Rata, and Pohutukawa Are Related
These three endemic trees are common and can be difficult to tell apart. They are in fact closely related and all belong to the same genus – Metrosideros. They are each a species within the same genus, so they are very similar and can be hard to tell apart.
All three of these endemic trees have beautiful clusters of red flowers that are produced in the summer. The pohutukawa tends to flower around December and has the nickname of New Zealand’s Christmas tree.
3 Tips To Identify A Rata Or Pohutukawa Tree
Where Are You?
This tip seems kind of obvious, but will help as each tree grows in the wild in certain areas. Thus, where you see the tree will give you a hint as to which type of tree grows there.
Pohutukawa is a coastal tree that can be found in the wild only on the North Island. It grows down to the northern Taranaki area on the west coast and down to Poverty Bay on the east coast. Notice that I say ‘in the wild’ because these have been planted in many other areas outside the normal range and now can be seen in many cities and towns.
The rata (also called northern rata) is a common tree that grows throughout the North Island and the top of the South Island (mainly along the west coast down to Greymouth).
The southern rata grows across the North Island (although it is rare) and is common on the west coast of the South Island.
Growth Form Of The Tree?
Each of these three grow quite large, but there are differences that can be noted.
Pohutukawas grow to be very large trees. They are tall, up to 20 m, but are broader than tall (up to 35 m wide). They start as a seed germinating on the ground and grow up into a very large, spreading, multi-trunk tree with a large canopy. The trunk can also become very broad with a diameter up to 1.8 m.
Rata begin life in one of two ways – either as an epiphyte which sends shoots down to the ground and gradually encloses and kills off its host tree or from the ground up like most trees. The adult tree that starts as an epiphyte will have a very large trunk that has a hollow area at its centre. Adult rata grow into tall trees with single trunks covered in epiphytes, whose first branches start well off the ground.
Southern rata grow as a shorter tree, up to 15 m. The souther rata has much thicker, dense foliage than the northern rata with the first branches growing close to the ground.
Check Out The Leaves
Pohutukawa leaves can be from 3 – 10 cm long by 1.5 – 5 cm wide. The leaves tend to be larger than on the ratas. The most distinguishing characteristic is that the leaves have a white fuzzy underside. The top is shining green, but the bottom is whitish and is covered in tiny hairs. Those hairs protects the leaves from the salt of the ocean. The edges of the leaves may also be slightly rolled up.
Rata leaves are glossy on both sides, dark green on the top and paler on the underside. The tips even have a bit of a notch as you can see in this photo.
Southern rata leave are also glossy on both sides, green on top and paler on the underside. They can be distinguished because the tips are pointed.