Coprosma moorei — Practical Plants

Taxonomy and growth

Family: Rubiaceae
Genus: Coprosma
Life cycle: perennial
Foliage: evergreen
Woodiness: woody
Height: 0.1 m
Fertility: Wind
Flower type: hermaphrodite
Pollinators: Wind

Uses

Edible uses

Fruit - raw. Succulent^[2]. Sweet, but with little flavour^[3]. The bright blue fruit is about 7mm in diameter^[2]^[3]. The roasted seed is an excellent coffee substitute^[1].

Product or use: Coffee

Plant part: Fruit

Material uses

A yellow dye is obtained from the wood, it does not require a mordant^[1].

Product or use: Dye

Environment

Range: Australia - Tasmania, Victoria.
Habitat: Wet peaty places in alpine, sub-alpine and montane zones, to 1,200 metres^[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^[2]. 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^[2]. Succeeds in most soils, so long as they are well-drained^[3]. This species is proving to be very difficult to grow in Britain^[3]. Somewhat intolerant of frost, plants are only likely to succeed outdoors in the milder areas of Britain^[2]. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus^[2]^[3]. Unlike most members of this genus, this species is hermaphrodite^[2]^[3].

References

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
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
↩1 ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7