The feijoa tree is covered in flowers this year. As we put the Christmas tree (exotic pine) inside the house on Sunday, we looked out and said, ‘There’s a real one!’* It is native to South America and is of the myrtle species, so related to the pōhutukawa aka the Aotearoa/New Zealand Christmas tree (beautiful pictures and the full story on this link).
I have a New Zealand myrtle in the garden. It is covered with fluffy white flowers at Christmas time, which prompted me to post about it last year (Christmas Trees, 8 Dec 2023 – also A White Christmas 14 Dec 2021). The Southern rata, another myrtle, was in flower when I was in the Botanic Gardens the Sunday before last.
Feijoas are very popular in New Zealand, and Kate Evans has written a book about them.
Here’s a close up of the pretty flowers which make the feijoa a self-decorating Xmas tree.
Myrtle rust is a problem for myrtles, so let’s hope it doesn’t become the grinch for future Christmases.
*My sister and brother-in-law, who gave us the inside Christmas tree also gave us the feijoa tree.
Anne-O-tations 