Variation
Natural variety Metrosideros excelsa x Metrosideros collinus
This upright shrub with spreading branches has light green pubescent new growth and forms a rounded habit. The flowers are crimson red and appear profusely over the plant during spring. It is an ideal plant for a shrub border and tolerates coastal regions.

Cultivars
Some of the following cultivars may only be found in New Zealand.

'Aurea'
This plant grows smaller and has yellow flowers and was found in 1940 on Motiti Island.

'Fire Mountain'
This plant has a rounded habit that spreads with orange-scarlet flowers.

'Fiji Fire'
This shrub to small tree is derived from Metrosideros vitiencensis and attains a height of 3m (10ft). It is grown for its brilliant red new growth that appears throughout the year and the sparse orange-red flowers appear in clusters during summer. 
This bird attracting shrub tolerates salt laden windy locations on the coast and inland, preferring an open sunny to semi shaded position. It is planted as a specimen in small or coastal gardens and may be used for screening along borders. 

'Lighthouse'
This early flowering form has red flowers.

'Moon Maiden'
This compact shrub grows to 4m (12ft) tall by 3.5m (11ft) wide and produces glossy grey-green foliage. The sulphur-coloured flowers appear in clusters during summer and this plant is excellent for containers or as a low hedge and specimen plant. It prefers a semi shaded to full sun position, on the coast or inland and requires a low amount of water once established.

'Parnell'
This vigorous plant has large leaves and profuse flowering.

'Red Haze'
This plant has a spreading weeping habit.

'Scarlet Pimpernel'
This plant has a compact habit and only grows to 4m (12ft).

'Variegata'
This plant has leaves with creamy-yellow margins.

'Vibrance'
This small tree has upright branches that form a dense rounded habit and produces vibrant scarlet-orange flowers. It is planted in parks and gardens as a specimen or along borders for screening.