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Common Name: Karamu

General Information

Coprosma robusta 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 - North, South and Chatham Islands, south to latitude 45°south.

Habitat

Lowland forest and shrubland, especially on alluvial soils[, ]. Found from sea level to 1200 metres, it is often found where the soil is poor or swampy or where conditions are windy or cold[].

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[]. Succeeds in most soils[]. In its native New Zealand, this is a tough plant that will grow in difficult conditions, being wind hardy and frost tolerant when mature[]. It tolerates full sun and shade equally well[].
Somewhat intolerant of frost, this species is only likely to succeed outdoors in the mildest areas of Britain[, ]. Plants are fairly hardy in Essex according to another report, which says that they are worthy shrubs for a woodland garden[].
There are some named forms, selected for their ornamental value[].
Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[, ].
Plants are tolerant of heavy clipping or pruning[].
Plants are normally dioecious, though occasionally the plants produce a few flowers of the opposite sex before the main flowering and a few hermaphrodite flowers are sometimes produced[, ]. Male and female plants must usually be grown if seed is required.

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[]. The fruit is freely borne, it is sweet but has little flavour[]. The fruit has a bitter flavour[]. The orange fruit is about 9mm long x 5mm wide[, ].
The roasted seed is a coffee substitute[, ]. It is said to make an excellent coffee, though the seeds are rather small[].

Medicinal

A concoction of boiled leaves and twigs has been used to treat wounds that are not healing[].
The decoction of the leaves has been drunk in the treatment of kidney troubles[].

Other Uses

A yellow dye is obtained from the wood, it does not require a mordant[].
This species is one of the most useful plants for controlling soil erosion - it has been called the soil conservation workhorse[]. It is suitable for general revegetation on bare infertile soils and provides good shelter for other more sensitive plants[]. Early growth is fast, so it provides good rapid shelter for other plants, whilst its dense, fibrous root system makes it good for stabilising soil[].

Propagation

Seed - probably best sown as soon as it is ripe in a greenhouse or cold frame[]. Sow stored seed in spring in a cold frame[]. Germination can be slow, often taking more than 12 months even when fresh seed is used[]. 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[].
Cuttings of mature wood of the current year's growth, autumn in a frame.