Metrosideros excelsa / Pohutukawa trees are coastal trees that grow in New Zealand. They thrive near the sea, easily withstand strong winds, salt spray and drought and are rarely found inland. The tree hardly ever grows straight and is more likely to have many short trunks with tortuous branches. Usually found growing on cliffs with the branches sometimes reaching in the water (occasionally even found with oysters growing on the branches) and the great roots spread along the cliff-face above.