Coprosma grandifolia
Hook.f.
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.
Common Name:
General Information
Coprosma grandifolia is an evergreen shrub that can grow up to 5.00 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
Range
New Zealand.
Habitat
Lowland to lower montane marginal forests, Three Kings, North and South Islands south to latitude 42° 30'[
,
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.
].
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Shrub |
| Height | 5.00 m |
| Pollinators | Wind |
| Self-fertile | No |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
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.
].
A very ornamental plant[
1- Title
- RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
- Publication
-
- Author
- F. Chittendon.
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Year
- 1951
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
], it 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 trimming 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. Sweet and juicy[
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.
], but with little 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 reddish-orange fruit is about 8mm long[
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 roasted seed is an excellent 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.
].
Medicinal
Poultice, skin, stomachic. Treats cuts, sores, fevers, bruises and urinary complaints[
61- Title
- A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Usher. G.
- Publisher
- Constable
- Year
- 1974
- ISBN
- 0094579202
- Description
- Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.
]. Sap from the inner bark has been used as a treatment for scabies[
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,
].
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.
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Useful Temperate Plants Database 2016 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
