Metrosideros collina ‘Spring Fire’ (Lehua) – This is a compact, upright, evergreen large shrub or small tree 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.

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.