http://www.ask.com/explore/dangers-chinaberry-trees It's invasive and I would replace it with any number of better options. The wood is very soft and easy to cut through, btw... Here is a link that might be useful: Tree options This post was edited by blakrab on Tue, Apr 22, 14 at 22:31

Tracy, thanks for the info, it does somewhat resemble it but I think "Fit" might be a name brand rather than a variety name. But I sure could be wrong. Johnmerr, I looked up "Thomson" and it does seem to describe it, plus it's an older variety too; I think that may be it. Thanks to both for helping me, : ) !

(Redirected from New Zealand Christmas Tree) Jump to: navigation, search Pōhutukawa Pōhutukawa trees Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae (unranked): Angiosperms (unranked): Eudicots (unranked): Rosids Order: Myrtales Family: Myrtaceae Genus: Metrosideros Species: M. excelsa Binomial name Metrosideros excelsa Gaertn. Synonyms Metrosideros tomentosa The Pōhutukawa (Metrosideros excelsa) is a coastal evergreen tree of the myrtle family that produces a brilliant display of red flowers made up of a mass of stamens. The Pōhutukawa is one of twelve Metrosideros species endemic to New Zealand. Contents [hide] 1 Description 2 Flowers 3 Conservation 4 Cultivation 5 See also 6 Notes 7 References [edit] Description The tree grows up to twenty metres in height, with a dome-like spreading form. Its natural range is the coastal regions of the North Island of New Zealand, north of a line stretching from New Plymouth (39 S) to Gisborne (38° S). It also grows on the shores of lakes in the Rotorua area. A giant PÅhutukawa at Te Araroa on the East Coast is reputed to be the largest in the country, with a height of 20 metres and a spread of 38 metres.[1] The tree is renowned as a cliff-dweller, able to maintain a hold in precarious, near-vertical situations. Some specimens have matted, fibrous aerial roots. Like its Hawaiian relative the Ê»ÅhiÊ»a lehua (M. polymorpha), the PÅhutukawa has shown itself to be efficient in the colonisation of lava fields, notably on Rangitoto Island, a volcano in Auckland Harbour. [edit] Flowers The PÅhutukawa flowers from November to January with a peak in mid to late December (the southern hemisphere summer), with brilliant crimson flowers covering the tree, hence the nickname New Zealand Christmas Tree. There is variation between individual trees in the timing of flowering, and in the shade and brightness of the flowers. In isolated populations genetic drift has resulted in local variation: many of the trees growing around the Rotorua lakes produce pink-shaded flowers, and the yellow-flowered cultivar "Aurea" descends from a pair discovered in 1940 on MÅtiti Island in the Bay of Plenty. [edit] Conservation In New Zealand, the PÅhutukawa is under threat from browsing by the introduced common brushtail possum which strips the tree of its leaves. A charitable conservation trust, Project Crimson, has the aim of reversing the decline of PÅhutukawa and other Metrosideros species - its mission statement is "to enable pohutukawa and rata to flourish again in their natural habitat as icons in the hearts and minds of all New Zealanders". [edit] Cultivation PÅhutukawa in bloomThe PÅhutukawa is popular in cultivation, and there are fine examples in most North Island coastal cities. Vigorous and easy to grow, the tree flourishes well south of its natural range, and has naturalised in the Wellington area and in the north of the South Island. The PÅhutukawa has been introduced to other countries with mild-to-warm climates, including south-eastern Australia and it has naturalised on Norfolk Island. In coastal California, it is a popular street and lawn tree. In parts of South Africa, the PÅhutukawa grows so well that it is regarded as an invasive species, it is also naturalising on coastal cliffs in the Sydney Region, Australia. Specimens occur in Spain as north as La Coruña[2]. This tree has withstood temperatures as low as -7.3°C at Tresco, England[3].

I grew up in the Rio Grande Valley. It can take 10 years from seed to bloom for a Royal poincina, About 10 years ago, Daddy took Mother to see one in Harlingen. They took pictures, but I can't find it now. It was one of the biggest we had ever seen. I do remember one blooming at a grade school in Brownsville, in 1960. My SIL had a non bloomer at her house. She picked a branch off the one at the school and tied it to her tree. When her husband got home from work, he thought their tree had finally bloomed.