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Useful Temperate Plants

Coprosma repens

A.Rich.

Rubiaceae


The Temperate Database is in the process of being updated, with new records being added and old ones being checked and brought up to date where necessary. This record has not yet been checked and updated.

+ Synonyms

Common Name: Mirror Plant

No Image.

General Information

Coprosma repens is an evergreen shrub that can grow up to 2.00 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of materials.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

44
Title
Flora of New Zealand.
Publication
 
Author
Allan. H. H.
Website
http://floraseries.landcareresearch.co.nz/pages/Book.aspx?fileName=Flora%201.xml
Publisher
Government Printer, Wellington.
Year
1961
ISBN
-
Description
The standard work, in 5 volumes though only the first two are of interest to the plant project. Very good on habitats. There is also an on-line version.
,
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

Range

New Zealand.

Habitat

Coastal cliffs on North and South Islands, south to latitude 41°50' south[
44
Title
Flora of New Zealand.
Publication
 
Author
Allan. H. H.
Website
http://floraseries.landcareresearch.co.nz/pages/Book.aspx?fileName=Flora%201.xml
Publisher
Government Printer, Wellington.
Year
1961
ISBN
-
Description
The standard work, in 5 volumes though only the first two are of interest to the plant project. Very good on habitats. There is also an on-line version.
].

Properties

Edibility Rating *
HabitEvergreen Shrub
Height2.00 m
PollinatorsWind
Self-fertileNo
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

Requires a moist, very well-drained neutral to slightly acid soil in full sun or light shade[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Succeeds in most soils[
225
Title
The New Plantsman. Volume 2, 1995.
Publication
 
Author
Knees. S.
Publisher
Royal Horticultural Society
Year
1995
ISBN
1352-4186
Description
A quarterly magazine, it has articles on Coprosma species,
].
Somewhat intolerant of frost, this species is only likely to succeed outdoors in the milder areas of Britain[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
,
225
Title
The New Plantsman. Volume 2, 1995.
Publication
 
Author
Knees. S.
Publisher
Royal Horticultural Society
Year
1995
ISBN
1352-4186
Description
A quarterly magazine, it has articles on Coprosma species,
]. The purple-leafed forms are somewhat hardier and have succeeded outdoors in a sheltered spot in an Essex garden[
225
Title
The New Plantsman. Volume 2, 1995.
Publication
 
Author
Knees. S.
Publisher
Royal Horticultural Society
Year
1995
ISBN
1352-4186
Description
A quarterly magazine, it has articles on Coprosma species,
].
There are several named forms, selected for their ornamental value[
182
Title
Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos.
Publication
 
Author
Thomas. G. S.
Publisher
Murray
Year
1992
ISBN
0-7195-5043-2
Description
Contains a wide range of plants with a brief description, mainly of their ornamental value but also usually of cultivation details and varieties.
,
225
Title
The New Plantsman. Volume 2, 1995.
Publication
 
Author
Knees. S.
Publisher
Royal Horticultural Society
Year
1995
ISBN
1352-4186
Description
A quarterly magazine, it has articles on Coprosma species,
].
Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
,
225
Title
The New Plantsman. Volume 2, 1995.
Publication
 
Author
Knees. S.
Publisher
Royal Horticultural Society
Year
1995
ISBN
1352-4186
Description
A quarterly magazine, it has articles on Coprosma species,
].
Plants are tolerant of heavy clipping or pruning[
225
Title
The New Plantsman. Volume 2, 1995.
Publication
 
Author
Knees. S.
Publisher
Royal Horticultural Society
Year
1995
ISBN
1352-4186
Description
A quarterly magazine, it has articles on Coprosma species,
].
Plants are normally dioecious, though in some species the plants produce a few flowers of the opposite sex before the main flowering and a few hermaphrodite flowers are sometimes produced[
225
Title
The New Plantsman. Volume 2, 1995.
Publication
 
Author
Knees. S.
Publisher
Royal Horticultural Society
Year
1995
ISBN
1352-4186
Description
A quarterly magazine, it has articles on Coprosma species,
]. Male and female plants must usually be grown if seed is required.

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[
173
Title
Native Edible Plants of New Zealand.
Publication
 
Author
Crowe. A.
Publisher
Hodder and Stoughton
Year
1990
ISBN
0-340-508302
Description
A very well written and illustrated book based on the authors own experiments with living on a native diet.
]. Sweet, but not much flavour[
225
Title
The New Plantsman. Volume 2, 1995.
Publication
 
Author
Knees. S.
Publisher
Royal Horticultural Society
Year
1995
ISBN
1352-4186
Description
A quarterly magazine, it has articles on Coprosma species,
]. The orange fruit is about 10mm in diameter[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
The roasted seed is a coffee substitute[
153
Title
Economic Native Plants of New Zealand.
Publication
 
Author
Brooker. S. G., Cambie. R. C. and Cooper. R. C.
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Year
1991
ISBN
0-19-558229-2
Description
An interesting and readable book on the useful plants of New Zealand.
,
173
Title
Native Edible Plants of New Zealand.
Publication
 
Author
Crowe. A.
Publisher
Hodder and Stoughton
Year
1990
ISBN
0-340-508302
Description
A very well written and illustrated book based on the authors own experiments with living on a native diet.
]. It is said to make an excellent coffee, though the seeds are rather small[
225
Title
The New Plantsman. Volume 2, 1995.
Publication
 
Author
Knees. S.
Publisher
Royal Horticultural Society
Year
1995
ISBN
1352-4186
Description
A quarterly magazine, it has articles on Coprosma species,
].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

A yellow dye is obtained from the wood, it does not require a mordant[
153
Title
Economic Native Plants of New Zealand.
Publication
 
Author
Brooker. S. G., Cambie. R. C. and Cooper. R. C.
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Year
1991
ISBN
0-19-558229-2
Description
An interesting and readable book on the useful plants of New Zealand.
].

Propagation

Seed - probably best sown as soon as it is ripe in a greenhouse or cold frame[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
]. Sow stored seed in spring in a cold frame[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Germination can be slow, often taking more than 12 months even when fresh seed is used[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
]. When the seedlings are large enough to handle, prick them out into individual pots. Grow on the plants for at least their first winter in a greenhouse and plant out in late spring or early summer. Give the plants some protection from the cold for their first winter outdoors[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Cuttings of mature wood of the current year's growth, autumn in a frame.
Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2024-03-28. <temperate.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Coprosma+repens>

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