Coprosma ciliata
Coprosma ciliata is a compact evergreen shrub reaching 1-2 meters tall, distinguished by its small oval leaves with distinctive hairy edges (cilia) that give the species its name. This hardy mountain species has a neat, rounded growth habit and produces bright orange to red berries that create attractive displays against the textured foliage. Found in montane and subalpine areas throughout New Zealand, it's valued for its tolerance of harsh conditions and reliable fruiting. The ciliate leaf margins and compact form make it a distinctive and valuable species among New Zealand's native shrubs
Image credit: Hairy Coprosma (Coprosma ciliata). Wikipedia
| Scientific Name | Coprosma ciliata |
|---|---|
| Height | 1-2 meters |
| Spread | 1-2 meters |
| Water Needs | Moderate |
| Light | Full sun to partial shade |
| Frost Tolerance | Very high (hardy to -15°C) |
| Salt Tolerance | Moderate |
| Growth Rate | Slow to moderate |
| Lifespan | 50-100 years |
Coprosma ciliata grows from 800 to 2000 meters elevation in montane and subalpine areas throughout New Zealand. It thrives in cool, moist climates with good drainage and tolerates harsh mountain conditions including strong winds, temperature extremes, and snow. This species is well-adapted to New Zealand's challenging mountain environments.
| City | Climate Suitability |
|---|---|
| Whangārei | Ideal |
| Auckland | Ideal |
| Hamilton | Ideal |
| Tauranga | Ideal |
| Rotorua | Ideal |
| Gisborne | Ideal |
| New Plymouth | Ideal |
| Napier | Ideal |
| Whanganui | Ideal |
| Palmerston North | Ideal |
| Wellington | Ideal |
| Nelson | Ideal |
| Christchurch | Ideal |
| Dunedin | Ideal |
| Invercargill | Moderate |
Coprosma ciliata prefers well-drained mountain soils:
Coprosma ciliata performs well in bright conditions:
Coprosma ciliata has moderate water requirements:
Coprosma ciliata naturally develops an attractive compact form:
Use sharp, clean tools and appreciate the textured foliage when pruning. The compact nature makes detailed work both possible and rewarding.
Plant Coprosma ciliata during spring or early autumn when soil conditions are suitable. This mountain species establishes best when planted during favorable weather periods.
Choose a site with:
Provide regular watering and protection from extreme heat during first 1-2 years. Coprosma ciliata establishes steadily and becomes quite self-sufficient once established.
Coprosma ciliata propagates well from berries:
Seedlings develop the characteristic hairy leaf edges as they mature.
Vegetative propagation is moderately successful:
Special considerations for mountain species:
Coprosma ciliata has contributed to New Zealand's mountain ecology and cultural understanding of alpine plant adaptations:
Today, Coprosma ciliata is valued by alpine garden enthusiasts and collectors of New Zealand native plants. Its compact form, distinctive foliage, and mountain hardiness make it ideal for specialized rock gardens and alpine plant collections.
Coprosma ciliata's mountain adaptations mean it performs best under somewhat harsh conditions. Problems usually arise from too much care rather than too little.
Create an authentic alpine garden section with Coprosma ciliata as a centerpiece, combined with native grasses and other mountain plants. The distinctive hairy leaf edges are best appreciated up close, making it perfect for raised beds or rock gardens where the textural details can be seen. Its compact form and reliable berries provide year-round interest in challenging garden situations where larger plants struggle.
Coprosma Ciliata
Learn more about the cultural significance of native shrubs in Cultural Plants.
Successful cultivation of Coprosma ciliata requires understanding its mountain origins and creating conditions that replicate the well-drained, challenging environments of New Zealand's subantarctic islands and montane habitats where this hardy species naturally thrives.
Hairy-edged Coprosma's subantarctic island and montane heritage demands specific cultivation conditions that honor its adaptation to harsh, wind-swept environments with excellent drainage and challenging growing conditions.
Hairy-edged Coprosma rewards appropriate care with decades of reliable performance, requiring minimal intervention once established in conditions that honor its mountain heritage and natural growth patterns.
Coprosma ciliata represents one of New Zealand's most distinctive and specialized mountain shrubs, demonstrating remarkable morphological adaptations to the harsh conditions of subantarctic islands and montane environments through its unique leaf structures, compact growth habit, and sophisticated reproductive strategies.
This variable shrub typically grows as an erect or spreading, sometimes sub-prostrate plant reaching up to 3 meters in height, though often remaining more compact in challenging mountain conditions. The species is characterized by slender branches and notably pubescent (hairy) branchlets that reflect its adaptation to harsh environmental conditions and provide the foundation for its distinctive appearance.
The species' most remarkable feature lies in its specialized leaf structure, where leaves are positioned on petioles measuring (1-)2-3(-4) mm long and covered with fine hairs. The stipules are subacute and pubescent, but most notably, they are densely ciliate with a conspicuous tuft at the apex that gives the species its common name "hairy-edged" and its scientific epithet "ciliata."
The leaf lamina itself is thin and pubescent, displaying broad-ovate to oval to oblong shapes that measure (6-)10(-20) x (1.5-)4-5(-10) mm. These leaves demonstrate the species' remarkable variability, with the midrib being pilose (covered with soft hairs) both above and below, while principal secondary veins are usually evident on both surfaces, creating an intricate pattern of venation that adds to the plant's textural appeal.
The reproductive structures consist of small, solitary, axillary flowers that are dioecious (separate male and female plants), followed by fleshy drupes that measure 6-7 mm in diameter and display colors ranging from bright orange to red. These berries are notably larger than those of closely related species like C. dumosa and feature color that extends throughout the fruit rather than being confined to the skin, providing superior wildlife food value and ornamental impact.
Hairy-edged Coprosma serves as a crucial component within New Zealand's subantarctic island and montane ecosystems, providing essential wildlife resources, habitat structure, and ecological services that support diverse communities in some of the country's most challenging environments.
Hairy-edged Coprosma offers exceptional opportunities for creating authentic mountain landscapes and specialized alpine gardens while providing proven performance in challenging conditions that defeat less hardy species.
Professional cultivation success depends on replicating the harsh but well-drained conditions of mountain environments while providing the specialized care needed for this unique subantarctic island species.
While currently classified as "Not Threatened," Hairy-edged Coprosma represents important biodiversity within New Zealand's subantarctic island ecosystems and contributes to the remarkable diversity of the Coprosma genus that makes New Zealand the global center for this plant group.
Hairy-edged Coprosma demonstrates sophisticated evolutionary adaptations to New Zealand's most challenging environments, including specialized morphological features, reproductive strategies, and physiological mechanisms that enable survival in harsh subantarctic island and montane conditions.
Coprosma ciliata occupies some of New Zealand's most remote and challenging environments, demonstrating remarkable ecological specialization to the unique conditions found on subantarctic islands and in montane regions where few other plant species can establish and thrive.
The species' primary distribution centers on the Auckland Islands, Campbell Islands, and Antipodes Islands, where it has evolved specialized adaptations to the harsh, wind-swept conditions characteristic of New Zealand's subantarctic island groups. These remote locations feature extreme weather variability, constant exposure to strong winds, salt spray, and challenging growing seasons that have shaped the plant's unique morphological and physiological characteristics.
Within these island environments, C. ciliata demonstrates remarkable habitat flexibility, establishing populations from exposed coastlines to more sheltered inland sites where conditions permit. The species shows notable morphological variation in response to environmental conditions, with plants in more exposed positions typically developing smaller, more glabrous (hairless) leaves, while those in more protected locations maintain the larger, ciliate leaves that characterize the species.
The plant's ability to thrive in such challenging conditions reflects millions of years of evolutionary adaptation to some of the most demanding terrestrial environments in the Southern Hemisphere. These subantarctic islands experience frequent storms, temperature extremes, and limited growing seasons that require extraordinary plant resilience and adaptive capacity.
In addition to its island strongholds, the species also occurs in montane environments on New Zealand's main islands, typically at elevations from 800-2000 meters where conditions approximate the harsh, well-drained environments of its primary subantarctic habitat. These mountain populations represent important genetic reservoirs and demonstrate the species' broader ecological potential within New Zealand's diverse mountain ecosystems.
This plant has cultural associations in Aotearoa and is valued in restoration and gardens for ecological services; use eco‑sourced stock near natural areas.
Coprosma species held important cultural significance for Māori, with the orange berries of larger species like karamū (C. robusta) eaten by children as a traditional food source. Kanono (C. grandifolia) was particularly valued for its bark, which provided a vibrant orange dye used in traditional crafts and ceremonial items. These versatile shrubs were integrated into daily life, providing both sustenance and materials for cultural practices.
