Prices:

	Each	20 or more
2.5L Pot	$9.50	$9.00

Details:

Type:	Shrub
Growth Rate:	Medium
Mature Height:	2 m
Mature Width:	1 m
Site Condition:	Exposed, Frost Tolerant, Heavy Soil, Sandy Soil, Waterways
Sun:	Full Sun
Drainage:	Dry, Moist
Frosts:	Half Hardy
Features:	Suitable for hedging or shelter. Attractive to birds, insects and lizards. Flower colour: Cream. Foliage colour: Green. Fruit colour: Dark Red. Native. Suitable restoration species.

Coprosma rhamnoides is a dense tightly divaricating shrub. Tiny light green leaves. Stiff red/brown branches. Good for exposed, dry areas. N.Z. flora has a large number of shrubs with small tough leaves and wiry interlacing branches – divaricates. Some even have brown or grey new growth, giving a dead-like unattractive appearance. It is suggested that this may be a defensive growth mechanism to deter visits from browsing moa. Coprosma rhamnoides is a good example.

In October the plants develop small pale cream flowers which are dioecious (sexes separate). These flowers are wind pollinated. Drupes appear on the female plant in March-April small (3-4mm) red berries, turning dark red or black as they ripen.

Habitat: It is widespread in Canterbury and Westland in lowland to lower montane-scrubland and forest mostly as an understorey plant. It is less common higher in the montane zone.

Flowering: Spring [October - November]
Fruiting:    Autumn [March - April]