hukihuki
Coprosma tenuicaulis | hukihuki, swamp coprosma
A hardy shrub suited to wet, boggy conditions. It is compact with slender, interlacing branches and small, rounded leaves that often show a subtle contrast between darker margins and a lighter centre. The fine, grey-green foliage gives the plant a light, textured appearance in the landscape. Naturally found in swamps, lake margins, and along waterways, this species thrives in consistently moist soils. Dark reddish-black to black berries are produced from late summer into autumn and provide an important food source for birds. Typically growing to around 2 to 3 metres tall, it is well suited to wetland gardens, riparian planting, and mass native plantings where wildlife habitat and ecological function are priorities.
typical habitat.
swamps
shrubland
riparian forest
drainage.
moist
well drained
sun.
full sun
partial shade
mature specifications.
height | 4m
width | 1.5m
pollinators calendar.
flowering | July - October
fruiting | March - May
did you know?
Coprosma tenuicaulis is one of the few New Zealand shrubs that can tolerate waterlogged soils. Its ability to survive in oxygen-poor ground allows it to colonise swamps and lake margins where most woody plants cannot grow, helping stabilise wet soils and provide critical habitat for wetland birds.