Metrosideros carminea, commonly known as Crimson Rata, is an evergreen perennial vine native to the temperate rainforests and mixed forests on the North Island of New Zealand. It can grow up to 15 meters long, with the main stem reaching several centimeters in diameter. The leaves are small, glossy, pointed, and often widest in the middle, while new growth stems are reddish. Crimson Rata is known for its vibrant displays of bright red flowers that appear in clusters at the ends of stems from late winter to mid-spring, with seed capsules maturing from late spring to early autumn. It climbs similarly to ivy, using short adventitious roots to adhere to host trees, and mature vines can hang freely like thick ropes.

Crimson Rata is valued for its striking floral display and is often used in cultivation for ornamental purposes. It is suitable for urban planting, border planting, and as a ground cover or shrub when grown from mature plant cuttings. It thrives in full sun to part shade, requires medium amounts of water, and prefers well-drained soils. While generally easy to maintain, it is important to note that seedling plants will climb, whereas vegetative propagations will grow as shrubs or ground covers. Popular cultivars include ’Red Carpet’, which flowers in late spring, ’Carousel’, a dwarf shrub with variegated leaves and carmine-red flowers, and ’Ferris Wheel’, which has deep green leaves and bright carmine red flowers with golden stamens. Potential problems include susceptibility to root rot in poorly drained soils.CC BY-SA 4.0