Description
''Metrosideros carminea'' prefers warm moist habitats and grows up to . long or more, with the main stem several centimetres in diameter. The small, glossy, pointed leaves are thick, and often widest in the middle. The small rounded and shiny deep-green leaves have are borne on reddish new stems. Carmine rātā flowers from late winter to mid-spring, and has vibrant displays of bright red flowers in groups at the ends of the stems. The seed capsules ripen between late spring and early autumn. It climbs in the same way as ivy, sending out short adventitious roots to adhere to the trunks of host trees, penetrating and clinging to rough surfaces. The climbing shoots of juvenile plants grow rapidly and quickly extend the length of the plant. The short clinging roots usually die after about a year, so that when the vine is mature, the thick, twisted, rope-like stems hang free from the host like thick ropes.Cultivation
This species of climbing rātā is often cultivated for its bright flowers that appear in the early spring. It is generally available from most retail nurseries in New Zealand, although most plants sold are from adult cuttings which grow into shrubs rather than climbers. Carmine Rata prefers a moist semi-shady position, sheltered from frost. There are several cultivars of ''M. carminea''. ''Metrosideros'' ‘Red Carpet’ flowers freely in October (late spring in New Zealand). Another cultivar, ''Metrosideros'' ' Carousel' is an attractive dwarf shrub useful as a groundcover, having glossy lime-green leaves with broad gold margins and small carmine-red flowers in spring. It grows to 80 cm. ''Metrosideros'' 'Ferris Wheel' has glossy deep green leaves. It bears bright carmine red flowers with golden stamens through spring. It grows to . Generally, only seedling plants will behave as climbers. Those propagated vegetatively from mature plants, typically by cuttings or layering, usually develop into small shrubs or groundcovers. That is why the cultivars described above are not climbers.See also
* Colenso's tātā * Large white tātā * Scarlet rātā * Small white rātā * White rātāReferences
* Dawson, D., and R. Lucas, 2000. ''Nature Guide to the New Zealand Forest''. Auckland: Random House. * Simpson, P., 2005. ''Pōhutukawa & Rātā: New Zealand's Iron-Hearted Trees''. Wellington: Te Papa Press. * * *External links
{{Taxonbar, from=Q6825377 carminea Endemic flora of New Zealand Garden plants of New Zealand Vines