Practical
Plants

Coprosma billardieri

Native Currant

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Rubiaceae
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Height
3 m
Fertility
self sterile
Flower type
dioecious
Pollinators
Wind

Uses

Edible uses

Fruit - raw or cooked. Sweet and juicy[1][3][4], but with little flavour[6]. The red fruit is about 7mm in diameter[5][6]. The roasted seed is an excellent coffee substitute[2].

Product or use
Coffee
Plant part
Fruit

Material uses

A yellow dye is obtained from the wood, it does not require a mordant[2].

Product or use
Dye

Environment

Range
Australia - New South Wales, Tasmania, Victoria.
Habitat
Shady mountain gullies in moister forests to the montane zone[3].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 9+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

Seed - probably best sown as soon as it is ripe in a greenhouse or cold frame[K]. Sow stored seed in spring in a cold frame[5]. Germination can be slow, often taking more than 12 months even when fresh seed is used[K]. 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]. Cuttings of mature wood of the current year's growth, autumn in a frame.

Cultivation

Requires a moist, very well-drained neutral to slightly acid soil in full sun or light shade[5]. Succeeds in most soils[6]. Somewhat intolerant of frost, this species is only likely to succeed outdoors in the mildest areas of Britain[5]. Plants are hardy to at least -7°c in Australian gardens[3] though this does not translate directly to British gardens due to our cooler summers and longer, colder and wetter winters. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[5][6]. Plants are tolerant of heavy clipping or pruning[6]. 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[6]. Male and female plants must usually be grown if seed is required.

References

  1. Cribb. A. B. and J. W. Wild Food in Australia. Fontana 1976-00-00 ISBN 0-00-634436-4

    ↩

  2. Brooker. S. G., Cambie. R. C. and Cooper. R. C. Economic Native Plants of New Zealand. Oxford University Press 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-19-558229-2

    ↩1↩2

  3. Wrigley. J. W. and Fagg. M. Australian Native Plants. Collins. (Australia) 1988-00-00 ISBN 0-7322-0021-0

    ↩1↩2↩3

  4. Crowe. A. Native Edible Plants of New Zealand. Hodder and Stoughton 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-340-508302

    ↩

  5. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  6. Knees. S. The New Plantsman. Volume 2, 1995. Royal Horticultural Society 1995-00-00 ISBN 1352-4186

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

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