Southern Rata & Summer Green: Gifts, Growth and How-To’s

METROSIDEROS umbellata – NZ Native Southern Rata

Metrosiderous umbellata - Rata in flower Round Hill - Dec 2024
Metrosideros umbellata – Rata in flower Round Hill, Southland

A sign another year is drawing to a close and Summer holidays are ahead. This Summer we’re celebrating one of Aotearoa’s most spectacular natives, the Southern Rata. Famous for its brilliant scarlet flowers, in great flowering season, it transforms forest canopies into a blaze of colour during late December and into January.

Metrosideros umbellata - Southern Rata in flower - Fernhill Dec 2024
Metrosideros umbellata – Southern Rata in flower, Fernhill
8/12L 60-80cm
5 year old
25/35L 1m+
7+ year old
80L 1.7m+
8+ year old
Haast Pass with Southern Rata
Metrosideros umbellata in nature – Haast Pass

Closer to home, Southern Rata is also treasured for its nectar, which is the source of distinctive West Coast Rata honey. It’s a tree that connects ecology, culture, and community — a living reminder of Summer’s brilliance. At Easy Big Trees, we’re proud to grow and share this iconic species, bringing its colour and character into gardens across New Zealand.

From Pink Spring to Green Summer

Summer replacing Spring

With the change of season, our logo has shifted too — from pink into green for Summer. It’s our way of marking the rhythm of the year and celebrating the fresh energy that new leaves in Summer bring.

Easy Gift Vouchers for Christmas

Looking for a thoughtful gift? Our online Easy Big Trees gift vouchers are a simple way to share the joy of trees this Christmas. Whether for a seasoned gardener or someone just starting out, vouchers make it easy to give a lasting, living present.

New on YouTube: How to Plant a Tree

Keiren and Dirk have put together a practical step-by-step guide on planting trees, now live on our YouTube channel. Watch the video here: How to Plant a Tree and subscribe to our channel. It’s full of tips to help ensure your trees thrive from the very start.

END OF THE YEAR HOURS:

Office hours:
Last working day 18th December.
Back on 5th January.

Delivery:
North of Christchurch will be the 10th of December.
Christchurch will be the 17th of December.
Central will TBC or a case by case basis.
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