Norfolk Island hibiscus, Queensland white oak
This is a tree for the greenhouse, except in frost free parts of the country. It has a pyramidical habit, with ovate or lance-shaped leaves, which are olive green above and whitish to grey scaled beneath. It has cup or trumpet shaped rose-pink, hibiscus-like flowers in summer followed by rounded seed capsules, enclosed by fine hairs. These capsules give this tree two other common names in its native Australia; Itchy bomb tree and cow itch tree.
The Genus name honours Andrés Laguna (1494-1560), a Spanish botanist and the epithet honours Colonel William Paterson (1755-1810), a Lieutenant Governor of New South Wales, who first sent seeds of this tree back to the UK.
If you can already grow Metrosideros in coastal areas you may well be able to grow this plant outside as well. The same rules apply as to Metrosideros. It needs a hot, dry, sheltered and sunny location. Once a woody stem has been established it will survive a cold snap more easily.
