coprosma crassifolia

Coprosma crassifolia | coprosma crassifolia

 

A stiffly branched, upright shrub with a dense, columnar habit and small, thick, glossy dark-green leaves held on rigid, wide-angled branches. Young stems are often reddish to orange-tinged and finely hairy, becoming more sculptural with age. Evergreen and highly resilient, it provides strong structure, shelter, and textural contrast, performing especially well in narrow spaces and exposed sites. White to pale-yellow berries are produced. Extremely hardy and tolerant of drought, frost, wind, and sea spray, it is well suited to coastal, lowland, and lower montane environments. Commonly used in revegetation, hedging, and shelter plantings, it performs best in full sun but will tolerate partial shade, where growth may be more open. Suitable for riparian sites, particularly on higher, better-drained banks.

coastal scrub

lowland forest

lower montane forest

shrubland

sandy lowland

moist

well drained

free draining

dry

full sun

partial shade

height | 4m

width | 2m

flowering | September-October

fruiting |  November-June

Mingimingi provides important habitat for New Zealand’s declining lizard and gecko populations. By offering dense shelter and reliable food, it attracts these small animals early on, making it a valuable pioneer shrub in revegetation projects.