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Coprosma pumila - Hook.f.

Common Name
Family Rubiaceae
USDA hardiness 6-9
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Higher montane to sub-alpine grassland, North, South and Stewart Islands[44].
Range Australia, New Zealand.
Edibility Rating    (1 of 5)
Other Uses    (1 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Coprosma pumila


Coprosma pumila

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Coprosma pumila is an evergreen Shrub growing to 0.1 m (0ft 4in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7. It is in leaf all year. The species is dioecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required). and is pollinated by Wind. The plant is not self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

C. perpusilla. Colenso. C. repens. non A.Rich.

Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; South Wall. By. West Wall. By.

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit
Edible Uses: Coffee

Fruit - raw or cooked. Sweet, but with little flavour[225]. The orange-red fleshy fruit is about 7mm in diameter, though forms with fruits up to 13mm have been seen[225]. The roasted seed is an excellent coffee substitute[153].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Dye

A yellow dye is obtained from the wood, it does not require a mordant[153].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Requires a moist, very well-drained neutral to slightly acid soil in full sun or light shade[200]. Prefers a permanent moist and peaty soil, but it is not an easy plant to grow in Britain[225]. Somewhat intolerant of frost, this species is only likely to succeed outdoors in the milder areas of Britain[200]. Another report says that it is fully hardy in Britain[225]. Closely related to C. atropurpurea and often confused with that species[225]. It is a very variable plant, hybridizing freely with other members of this genus[200, 225]. 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[225]. Male and female plants must usually be grown if seed is required. There is some confusion over the correct name of this species, it could be a part of C. petriei[200].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

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Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees, and Woodland Gardening. Our new book to be released soon is Edible Shrubs.

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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[200]. 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.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

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Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Coprosma acerosaSand CoprosmaShrub0.5 7-10  LMSNM201
Coprosma areolata Shrub5.0 8-11  LMSNM101
Coprosma atropurpurea Shrub0.1 6-9  LMSNM101
Coprosma billardieriNative CurrantShrub3.0 8-11  LMSNM101
Coprosma brunnea Shrub0.1 7-10  LMSNM203
Coprosma foetidissima Shrub5.0 8-11  LMSNM101
Coprosma grandifolia Shrub5.0 8-11  LMSNM111
Coprosma hirtellaRough CoprosmaShrub2.0 8-11  LMSNM101
Coprosma lucida Shrub5.0 7-10  LMSNM201
Coprosma moorei Shrub0.1 8-11  LMSNM101
Coprosma nitida Shrub2.0 7-10  LMSNM201
Coprosma petriei Shrub0.1 6-9  LMSNM103
Coprosma propinqua Shrub6.0 6-9  LMSNM102
Coprosma repensMirror Plant, Creeping mirrorplantShrub2.0 8-11  LMSNM101
Coprosma rhamnoides Shrub2.0 7-10  LMSNM101
Coprosma robusta Shrub5.0 8-11  LMSNM111
Coprosma rotundifolia Shrub2.4 8-11  LMSNM101
Coprosma rugosa Shrub3.0 6-9  LMSNM102
Coprosma serrulata Shrub0.6 7-10  LMSNM101
Coprosma virescens Shrub2.0 7-10  LMSNM101

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Expert comment

Author

Hook.f.

Botanical References

44200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Adrienne   Mon Dec 13 06:44:20 2004

Coprosma perpusilla is the correct and current name for this plant, which is widespread in the alpine regions of NZ, Australia and subantarctic islands south of NZ. Coprosma pumila is actually restricted to Australia. Coprosma atropurpurea, C. niphophila and C. petriei are all confused with C. perpusilla in NZ because of their superficial morphological similarity. However, all four species are quite unrelated.

Coprosma repens applies to a larger coastal shrub from NZ, which has highly reflective, smooth, waxy leaves - hence the term "mirror plant". This species is an invasive pest in Hawaii.

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Subject : Coprosma pumila  
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