Research in Context
Tree species with area of origin New Zealand
Metrosideros excelsa
Myrtaceae
Image source: Rico van Manen 2024. Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal. 07-09-2024. 148 year old Metrosideros excelsa on the Campo de São Francisco in Ponta Delgada [online] Shutterstock
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/ponta-delgada-azores-portugal-07092024-148-2532700117
NOTE: This image comes from an online image database. It will be replaced in the future with a picture of an occurrence of the species in urban environment in Greece.
Distribution in Athens. In coastal urban areas, it is regularly used as an ornamental shrub. However as is the case with other hardy ornamental shrubs, it can be trained as a single leader tree.
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Biomes Subtropical
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Countries and regions
Area of Origin. New Zealand North Island.
Global Distribution (introduced) Azores, Madeira, Norfolk Is., Tristan da Cunha
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Cities worldwide
​Tree inventories around the world. In 52 inventories around the world.
OCEANIA: Australia, New Zealand.
AMERICAS: Colombia, USA (Berkeley, Honolulu, Los Angeles, Oakland, Pasadena, San Diego, San Francisco).
EUROPE: Portugal (Lisbon)
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Performance. It appears to be performing well in the dry and hot summers in Athens.
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Literature references ARDEM project - INRAE, Proteaceae Family Website. ​
Myoporum laetum
Distribution in Athens. In coastal urban areas, it is regularly used as an ornamental shrub. However it can be developed as a single trunk small tree. In the borough Palaio Faliro.
Biomes Subtropical
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Countries and regions
Area of Origin. New Zealand.
Global Distribution (introduced) Australia (Tasmania, Victoria), Chatham Islands, Corse, East Aegean Islands, France, Italy, Portugal (Azores, Madeira ), Sicilia, Spain (Baleares, Canary Islands), Algeria,​ Morocco, Namibia, South Africa (Cape Provinces), Tunisia, Argentina Northeast, Mexico Northwest, USA (California), Uruguay.
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Cities worldwide
​Tree inventories around the world. In 10 inventories around the world:
OCEANIA: New Zealand,
AMERICAS: Argentina (Buenos Aires), Chile, Peru (Lima), USA (Berkeley, Palo Alto, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Monica).
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Performance. It appears to be performing well in the dry and hot summers in Athens.
REFERENCES
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RESEARCH PROJECTS
ARDEM PROJECT, INRAE
Ducatillion Catherine and Delorme, Sarah. 2022. ARbres de Demain En Méditerranée (ARDEM) projet brochure. Villa de Thuret, INRAE. 2022.
https://jardin-thuret.hub.inrae.fr/content/download/6148/49641?version=1
INRAE. |Rédaction by Rose-marie Bugeaud. “Arbres de demain - Fiches espèces.” Jardin Botanique Villa Thuret. Created on December 23, 2022. Modified on March 25, 2024.
https://jardin-thuret.hub.inrae.fr/actualites/presentation-des-fiches-especes
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TREE SPECIES DATABASES
SelecTree​​
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"SMALL TO MEDIUM-SIZED TREES FOR CALIFORNIA'S CLIMATE FUTURE"
https://selectree.calpoly.edu/list/421
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"BEST MEDIUM TO LARGE-SIZED TREES FOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA’S CLIMATE FUTURE"
https://selectree.calpoly.edu/list/67
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New Zealand Native Plants Guide. (2025, June 28).
NZ Native plants | Trees.
https://www.nativeplants.nz/trees.html
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​PAPERS
Maribel Carol-Aristizabal, Jérôme Dupras, Christian Messier, Rita Sousa-Silva. 2024. “Which Tree Species Best Withstand Urban Stressors? Ask the Experts”. Arboriculture & Urban Forestry (AUF) Jan 2024, 50 (1) 57-75.
https://doi.org/10.48044/jauf.2023.026
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BOOKS
Sjöman, Henrik, and Anderson, Arit 2023. The Essential Tree Selection Guide: For Climate Resilience, Carbon Storage, Species Diversity and Other Ecosystem Benefits. London: Filbert Press
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