Coprosma rugosa aka Needle Leaved Mountain Coprosma

Coprosma rugosa is an evergreen shrub in the Rubiaceae family. It comes from New Zealand and the Antipodes Islands. Its range includes North, South, and Stewart Islands. It grows in grassland, shrubland, and along forest edges. These habitats span low ground to lower subalpine sites. The plant keeps its leaves throughout the year. It reaches about 10 feet [3 metres] in height.

The flowers rely on wind to carry their pollen. Male and female flowers grow on separate plants. Grow both sexes together if you need seed. PFAF lists flowering from January to February. It gives August to October as the seed-ripening period. The fruit can be white or blue. Each fruit measures about 0.026 feet [0.008 metres] long. Its width is about 0.020 feet [0.006 metres]. The species can cross freely with other coprosmas.

Choose sun or light shade for this shrub. It needs moist soil that drains very well. Sandy and loamy soils suit it, though it accepts most soils. A neutral to slightly acid soil is best. Reports of its cold tolerance do not fully agree. PFAF lists USDA zones 6–9, yet also notes frost sensitivity. One cited account limits outdoor success to Britain's mildest areas. Another describes the species as hardy in Britain. These mixed reports leave its cold limits uncertain.

The shrub suits a sunny woodland edge or dappled shade. It also serves as a hedge and withstands hard clipping. Its wood yields a yellow dye without a mordant. The fruit is edible raw or cooked. It tastes sweet, but has little flavour. Roasted seeds can serve as a coffee substitute. PFAF gives its food value a low rating. It records no medicinal use and no known hazards. That does not establish safety for every person or pet.

Seed and mature-wood cuttings offer ways to raise new plants. Seed may take more than a year to sprout. PFAF suggests sowing fresh seed under glass or in a cold frame. Stored seed can be sown in spring. Keep young plants under glass through their first winter. Plant them out in late spring or early summer. Give them cold protection during their first winter outside.