Tree to c. 10 m high or more, often multi-stemmed, crown broadly spreading; branchlets tomentose. Leaves elliptic to oblong, 4–10 cm long, 2–5 cm wide, thick, leathery, dark green above, white-tomentose below; apex acute or obtuse; margins entire; petiole 0.5–1 cm long. Inflorescence a terminal, many-flowered cyme. Flowers red or crimson; hypanthium tomentose; sepals triangular, persistent; petals oblong; stamens numerous, 3–4 cm long. Fruit obconic to hemispherical, 7–10 mm long, c. 8 mm wide, tomentose. Flowers Dec.–Jan.
VVP, GipP, OtP, WaP, OtR. Native to the north island of New Zealand, where it occurs on coastal cliffs, apparently naturalised in Victoria near Port Campbell.
There are numerous cultivars of this species, ranging from low shrubs to trees, and yellow to red-flowered forms.
