This is a reblogged post from Blogmas 2016.
If you’ve ever had a Christmas card from New Zealand, it may well have had a picture of some bright, red flowers on it. These are the flowers of the pōhutukawa tree, which has earned this tree the title of New Zealand’s Christmas tree.
Pōhutukawa can also be found in Māori mythology. The young Māori warrior, Tawhaki went to find help in heaven to avenge his father’s death. However, he fell to earth and the crimson flowers are said to represent his blood.
Check out Project Crimson to read about the preservation of these trees.
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omg these flowers are beautiful!
They are! You know it is Christmas when they bloom!