Collection of Three Coprosma

This collection of Coprosmas or "mirror plants" differ in the colour of their foliage and their size. These three varieties are evergreen shrubs that are not very hardy, of modest size, with dense vegetation, cultivated for their beautiful, small, shiny, sparkling, variegated leaves that change colour throughout the seasons. In coastal gardens, they have a great effect in rockeries, shrub beds, or low hedges. Elsewhere, they will be superb in large pots on the terrace or balcony! They should be grown in non-chalky (acid or neutral), sandy soil, even dry.

The collection consists of:

1 Coprosma 'Fire Burst': this variety will reach a height of 1.50 m and a spread of 1 m. Its leaves have a green centre surrounded by an irregular, different coloured margin. The colour of the margin changes over the months, showing more or less intense shades of yellow, orange, pink, cream, magenta red, and purple.

1 Coprosma 'Evening Glow': this smaller variety reaches a height of 1 m and spreads over 70 cm. Its spring leaves are green with yellow spots, in summer the yellow spots turn golden yellow and the light green darkens, while red to pink areas appear. The first autumn frosts colour them orange and coppery pink, especially at their tips.

1 Coprosma repens 'Pina Colada': this is the most vigorous of the three varieties, reaching 1.20 m in all directions. The leaves are yellow at the base and become orange and green at the margin depending on the season.

Coprosma requires some precautions to acclimatise in open ground in our gardens: it perishes below -6 °C and prefers light, poor, non-alkaline soils. It is a precious-looking, very ornamental shrub when it stands in a pot on the terrace or balcony. This is the best growing method in most regions with significant frost in winter. Plant in spring, in a very sunny location. In open ground, lighten your soil with non-alkaline gravel if necessary or plant in a raised bed. Respect a spacing of 70-80 cm between each shrub. In a pot, choose a container of 30 to 40 litres with drainage holes and place a layer of clay pebbles at the bottom to help drain water. Bring the pots indoors in October, like citrus trees, into a slightly heated conservatory or a cool and bright room.

In a seaside garden, you can plant the Coprosmas from this collection as a low hedge, alternating them with other small shrubs with green foliage (Lonicera nitida), silver foliage (Santolina chamaecyparissus), or multicoloured foliage (Nandina 'Fire Power'). Add some spring flowering shrubs such as Cistus purpureus or ciste des Corbières to lighten the composition.