The Mirror plant
Glossy and almost polished leaves denote that this plant is often referred to as the mirror bush. There are many varieties in this genus making them the perfect shrub for that gap in your garden bed that needs to be filled.
Coprosma repens do well in South African gardens and it is seldom that one doesn’t see a garden with at least one Coprosma variety in it. This is surely due to the fact that this shrub is not only easy to grow but also almost completly disease and pest resistant.
Yet another positive attribute of Coprosma is that they make excellent coastal garden subjects as they are salt and wind tolerant. So, it would be a good idea to plant them in windswept coastal beds where they will happily handle all the South African coast line throws at them.
For high lying areas a word of caution though, Coprosma’s are frost tender so it is advisable to cover them with frost netting in areas where heavy inland frost occurs.
Fertilizing in spring with a general or an organic fertilizer will make for strong new growth and extra shine in the leaves. Should you need to keep them in check they can be pruned anytime of the year and make for interesting hedges or shapes.
The Mirror Plant is not fussy about the type of soil it grows in however they do prefer a well-drained soil. Regular water will keep the Mirror Plant healthy and the foliage glossy. Watch for overwatering as this causes the leaves to drop. Once established they are drought tolerant and water wise.
This hardy, evergreen plant can grow in sun or partial shade. They occur in numerous varieties from ground cover’s, to small and large shrubs depending on the variety that is chosen.
Coprosma repens ‘Marble Chips’ has foliage that is irregularly margined. These margins occur in creamy white and the leaves are often speckled green on white. Marble chips is classified as a large shrub and can grow to 2m in height, forming a glossy, large bush however can be easily trimmed into a more controllable size.
Coprosma repens ‘Pink Splendour’ has green, pink and cream leaves. The colour of the foliage intensifies in autumn and winter with the pink making a statement in garden beds. Pink splendour grows to approximately 1.5m in height, forming a lovely, colourful shrub.Remember that it takes well to pruning.
Coprosma Coffee and Cream has creamy margined shiny green foliage and grows to approximatly 2M in height. It is ideal as a screening plant in gardens.
Coprosma repens ‘Pacific Night’ has shiny purple/burgundy leaves and an upright growth habit. It reaches approximatly 1M in height. The leaves are rounded and glossy making this evergreen shrub a great plant for container gardening.
Coprosma repens ‘Pacific Sunrise’ ™ grows to approximatly 1 metre in height. It has chocolate coloured foliage highlighted in hot pink. Their interesting leaf shapes make it a “stand out “specimen in a garden bed. Plant it in the full sun or partial shade. This is an ideal small hedging plant.
Coprosma repens ‘Pacific Sunset ‘™ has a glossy wave shaped leaf consisting of a vivid red centre set against a burgundy/chocolate brown margin. It is stunning for use in pots or in the garden and works well in mass plantings. Maximum height is approximatly 1M. The colour is most intense in autumn and winter, a true head turner!
The foliage of Coprosma plants are prized by floral artists and used extensively in floral arrangements. They are not only long lasting but also add colour and a polished appearance to arrangements.
Consider Coprosmas for hedges or topiaries as they clip so well. Or how about popping them into containers for year round colour? They are easy to grow and maintain and are extremely rewarding.
Eastern Cape Stockists:
Floradale Nursery – Port Elizabeth
Floradale Nursery – East London
Red Leaf Nursery – Port Alfred
Builders Express East London
Builders Express – Jeffreys Bay
Builders Express – Newton Park
Builders Express – Queenstown
Builders Express – Uitenhage
Builders Express – Walmer
Builders Express – Walker drive
Builders Warehouse – Port Elizabeth
Free State Stockists:
Alma Kwekery – Welkom
Bruwer Kwekery – Bloemfontein
Builders Warehouse Bloemfontein
Greenside Kwekery – Bloemfontein
Harrismith Kwekery – Harrismith
Plants@Preller – Bloemfontein
Platberg Nursery – Harrismith
Pretty Garden Tuinsentrum – Bloemfontein
Urth Garden Centre – Bloemfontein
Gauteng Stockists:
4 Seasons Nursery – Heidelberg
Colourful Splendour – Craighall Park
Garden Pavilion – Brandmullers
Garden Pavilion – Eckards
Garden Pavilion – Sunkist
GardenShop Broadacres
GardenShop Bryanston
GardenShop Flora Farm
GardenShop Menlo Park
GardenShop Parktown North
Lifestyle Home Garden – Randburg
Montrose Nursery – Morningside
Plant Paradise Garden Centre – Pretoria
Safari Tuinsentrum – Pretoria
Schaffler’s Nursery – Johannesburg
Limpopo Stockists:
Mpumalanga Stockists:
Garden Pavilion – Montana
Garden Pavilion – White River
North West Stockists:
Clarks Tuinsentrum – Lichtenburg
Garden Pavilion – Potchefstroom
Western Cape Stockists:
Cape Garden – Joostenbergvlakte
Cape Garden – Somerset West
Cape Garden – Stellenbosch
Starke Ayres Garden Centre – Rosebank
Starke Ayres Garden Centre – West Coast Village
Stodels – Bellville
Stodels – Constantia
Stodels – Kenilworth
Stodels – Milnerton
Stodels – Somerset West
Builders Express – Kenilworth
Builders Express – Knysna
Builders Express – Stellenbosch
Builders Express – Willowbridge
Builders Warehouse – Cape Gate
Builders Warehouse – City
Builders Warehouse – Constantiaberg
Builders Warehouse – George
Builders Warehouse – Helderberg
Builders Warehouse – Table View
Builders Warehouse – Tygerberg
**Please note that not all stockists will have every plant featured**
