Parkinson's rātā facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Parkinson's rātā
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Myrtales
Family:	Myrtaceae
Genus:	Metrosideros
Species:	M. parkinsonii
Binomial name
Metrosideros parkinsonii Buchanan
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Parkinson's rātā is a special plant from New Zealand. It's a type of shrub or small tree. People also call it shrubby rātā. This plant got its name from Sydney Parkinson. He was an artist who traveled with Captain James Cook. Sydney Parkinson drew plants during Cook's first trip to New Zealand.

What Does Parkinson's Rātā Look Like?

Parkinson's rātā has beautiful flowers. They are usually a bright crimson red. These flowers typically bloom from September to December. The leaves of this plant can be dark green or light green. They often grow very close to the branches. Sometimes, the flowers grow right on the branches. They can even be a bit hidden behind the leaves!

Where Does Parkinson's Rātā Live?

Parkinson's rātā is a native plant of New Zealand. It grows naturally on the west coast of the South Island. You can find it from Hokitika all the way to Collingwood. It also lives on Great Barrier Island and Little Barrier Island. These islands are in the Hauraki Gulf. As of 2012, this plant is not considered to be in danger.

Can You Grow Parkinson's Rātā?

Growing Parkinson's rātā can be a bit tricky. It's not always easy to get this plant to grow well. People mostly grow it because of its lovely flowers. If you want to grow it, you might need to trim it. This helps it grow into a nice shape. You can grow it against a wall or fence. It also looks great as a single plant in a garden.

It's not very common to find this plant in regular nurseries. However, you might sometimes find it at special native plant nurseries.