Coprosma brunnea

Uses

Fruit - raw^[2]. Sweet, but with little flavour^[6]. The fruit is white or blue and up to 8mm long x 6mm wide^[5]^[6]. The roasted seed is an excellent coffee substitute^[3].

Product or use: Coffee

Plant part: Fruit

A yellow dye is obtained from the wood, it does not require a mordant^[3]. An excellent medium-height ground cover^[5].

Product or use: Dye

Environment

Range

New Zealand.

Habitat

Lowland to higher montane river beds, open grassland and rubbley places on North, South and Stewart Islands^[7].

Light

full sun

Shade tolerance

light shade

Water

moderate

Hardiness

Zone 8+

Soil textures

sandy, loamy

Soil pH

acid, neutral

Drainage

well drained

Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil

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, so long as they are well-drained^[6]. Very tolerant of maritime exposure^[5]. Somewhat intolerant of frost^[5], this species is hardy at Kew but it prefers milder winters^[1]. It does not succeed in the colder areas of the country^[1]. Fruits are freely produced in Ireland^[1]. Does well on a sunny ledge in the rock garden^[1]^[4]. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus^[5]^[6], especially C. petriei^[6]. There are several named forms, selected for their ornamental value^[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

Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

↩1 ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

Laing. and Blackwell. Plants of New Zealand. Whitcombe and Tombs Ltd 1907-00-00

↩

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

Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2

↩

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 ↩7

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