- Author: Jenni Dodini
Coprosma There are several varieties. Family: Rubiaceae
This start is part of my shopping score from Jan's garden. She has it growing in at least 3 different places in her yard. It caught my eye because it is SO shiny. So, of course, I had to go look in up. I did find it in the Sunset Western Garden Book. Then I went online. Most of what I found was from sites from Australia and New Zealand! In both countries it is considered an invasive WEED! It is native to New Zealand but also found in Tasmania, new South Wales, and Victoria.
Basically, this is a plant that will do well in places where most other plants won't. It is drought tolerant, but also does well in the salty air of coastal regions. It has a wide temperature tolerance, from -4 degrees C ( slightly colder than we get here) when it goes into its resting period, to 30 degrees C ( 80 degrees F for those of us who don't do metric) when it is actively growing. Jan said that hers are doing fine in this heat that we are enduring right now, but hers are getting afternoon shade. It is said to do well in poor soil and be amenable to pruning.
Depending on variety, it is a compact bush, around 3 feet high and 3 - 4 feet wide, but can be as tall as 8 - 10 feet and spread out that much as well. It has glossy, wavy leaves that run the color gamut of greens, pinks to red, and golds depending on variety. It is classed as an evergreen. It likes full sun to partial shade and direct light. During the "resting" periods it only needs sparse watering and only moderate watering when actively growing. It does flower, but only when male and female plants are in close proximity and the flowers are inconspicuous because they are close to the stem. The flowers produce bright red to bright orangey berries. The berries are then eaten by birds and the seeds are released from the berries during digestion and excreted by the birds where ever. ( You know how those birds are.) This must be the source of the "infestation" of bushes reported in Australia and New Zealand.
Anyway, IF this start takes, I am not sure if I will put it in the ground around the back of the house or keep it in a pot. I don't know if this plant is male, female, or a little of each because Jan just cut from each of the plants and stuck them in the shopping bag. I tried looking under a leaf, but couldn't tell. ( Sorry, couldn't resist.)