3 reasons to love colourful Coprosma

Looking for stunning foliage to add to your garden? Give Coprosma a go! There are many reasons to love this glossy evergreen shrub but we've narrowed it down to three really great ones.

Coprosma Green & Gold

1. Coprosma provide year-round colour

While seasonal stars bring interest and joy to a garden it's the well selected, year-round plants that make a design consistently great. Coprosma offers year-round colour and a range of new hybrids offer a selection of choices from yellow to lime green and cream to pink to burgundy with variegated foliage creating a lovely mottled effect.

With this plant you will enjoy colour in every season, plus a little extra drama in the cooler months when the foliage colours deepen. You'll see creamy pinks transform to rich reds and pale greens to deep oranges.

2. You don't need a green thumb for it to thrive

This shrub is hardy enough to have become a coastal garden favourite. Its shiny foliage doesn't just look great, but is also tough enough to take wind and salt in its stride. This makes it a wonderful plant choice for those tricky, exposed areas or simply a low-care filler plant, shrub or hedge for those of us looking to keep garden maintenance to a minimum.

3. They make an instant impact

This New Zealand native is fast-growing, allowing you to create a full and colourful hedge, border or statement faster. They make fantastic border plants and look striking when mass planted.

Coprosma Pacific Sunset

Coprosma at a glance

Botanical name: Coprosma repens

Common names: Mirror plant or looking-glass plant

Height: 1 - 1.5 metres

Width: 1 metre

Ideal spot: This plant has a well-deserved reputation for harsh coastal positions but will thrive in any sunny spot with well-draining soil.

Where to grow Coprosma? Pop it in your garden bed or a pot anywhere that doesn't get frost or snow.

Care tips

How to prepare for planting?

Improve drainage in heavy clay soils by adding coarse compost and river sand.

Feed

In spring, feed lightly with an organic slow release all purpose fertiliser. If planted in a pot it will also appreciate a liquid foliage feed.

Prune

Pruning isn't required but you can clip it back to keep it in shape if your prefer a more formal look to your hedges. The ideal time is toward the end of winter, before new spring growth.

Protect

A plant you can almost pop in a forget about when it comes to maintenance, it also resists many diseases and pests.

Water

This plant has very low water needs once established and will tolerate drought. To keep leaves looking their full, glossy best, however, they appreciate regular watering.

More colourful Coprosma

Pictured in top image: Coprosma Pacific Sunset