Those 'Wow' factor shrubs!

36 comments

Last year, at about this time, I wrote a blog about my collection of Coprosmas. If you’re not familiar with them, they are a shrub from New Zealand with many different named cultivars. Their appeal for me was their wonderful foliage! So many different colours – and the common name for one species – Coprosma repens – is the ‘Mirror Plant’. This is why!

The leaves shine, just like a mirror. Beautiful, isn’t it! Now you can see why I love them so much.

I had a good collection of them, and come the cold weather, I tried my best to protect them from the frost. They were all planted in the borders, in sheltered positions, and facing west. I thought that fleecing them, or in the case of two small ones, a ‘bell cloche’ over the top should be enough to see them through the winter. WRONG. I lost all but one.

The survivor! C. ’Beatson’s Gold’

I was devastated, of course. I had to make a decision – to give up on them – or to replace them. I had some helpful thoughts from GOY members, and Andrew suggested leaving them in their pots so that I could take them into the greenhouse for the winter. Decision made! I would replace them! So the search began.

Coprosma ‘Fireburst’

I tried at the local Nursery where I’d bought two. Oh dear. In spite of their Polytunnels, they had also lost all their stock. They weren’t too happy, either!

‘Fireburst’ was the first one I found – by chance, on my travels. It starts off a much duller colour, but like some of the others, the colour intensifies as the temperatures drop – until the full glorious red appears!

Coprosma ‘Lemon and Lime’

I had two of these in 2008, as it was my favourite one. I was so pleased to find it again! The next two plants are also replacements for ones that I lost -

Coprosma ‘Evening Glow’

Coprosma ‘Rainbow Surprise’

I was doing well! Only one more to replace…but it was elusive.

However, when we went to the Windsor Gardening Show to choose my Wedding Anniversary present – a driftwood sculpture – I spotted a different Coprosma! Of course it went home with me!

Coprosma ‘Pacific Night’

Then came June – and the garden was open for the NGS for the very first time. It was a real thrill to meet several GOY members who travelled from far and wide to see my garden for themselves. I was given presents, too – and Andrearichter’s was….yes, you guessed! Another Coprosma! She’d lost hers, too – and knew how I felt!

Coprosma ‘Black Cloud’

This is another Coprosma that will change the colour of its foliage in lower temperatures. I am told that the leaves will darken considerably. Can’t wait to see them.

Coprosma ’Painter’s Palette’

A few weeks later, my friend took me to a wholesale Nursery – and there I found ’Painter’s Palette’ – how gorgeous is that one!

Coprosma kirkii ‘Variegata’

On a recent visit to a Garden Centre near Bristol, I spotted this plant. It is rather different – not C. repens, this time – it’s Coprosma kirkii, but although it doesn’t have the glossy leaves, I still love it! I’m afraid that it isn’t hardy, though, like its relatives.

But what about that elusive one? Toto had somehow managed to have a survivor of his own, and he offered to take cuttings from his for me. I accepted with thanks!

Then – only a few days ago – I almost fell over it…there it was, in all its glory, found by chance when I was buying bulbs.

Coprosma ‘Karo Red’

So my original collection is complete, but with additions! Will I stop there? Oh no – there are more out there – maybe I’ll trip over another one somewhere, sometime. One thing’s for certain if I do – it will be coming home with me!

12 Nov, 2009
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Comments

Ian_digs_v2

Another lovely blog Spritz. It's no wonder you are considered the queen of GoY! Your knowledge and devotion to your garden is second to none or at least up there with the best!
I really like the colour of 'Rainbow surprise' and 'Fireburst' but possible not suitable for my little garden?

12 Nov, 2009

Spritzhenry

Well, thanks for the 'royal' bit, Ian - I don't deserve that at all!

I can't help being devoted to my garden - you know that! :-))))

As for getting any Coprosmas - only if you keep them in pots and take them under cover in the winter. I know that both Bb and Toto managed to over-winter one, but if Andrea on the mild Isle of Wight lost hers - it says it all, doesn't it!

12 Nov, 2009

Moon_grower

Great pix. and info... thanks Spritz :)

12 Nov, 2009

Spritzhenry

You're welcome, Mg! :-))

12 Nov, 2009

Seaburngirl

smashing blog spritz. I havent grown these and i may well look into them and my location/aspect.

12 Nov, 2009

Spritzhenry

I shall wait and see what happens, Sbg! :-))

12 Nov, 2009

Seaburngirl

you are a proper tease you do know that dont you?

12 Nov, 2009

Spritzhenry

Oooohhh! I'm NOT!!! How can you say that, Sbg?

12 Nov, 2009

Amblealice

She certainly is!!!...tempting us with the glorious foliage on these plants and then tells us we have to bring them in over winter!!....huh!....I expect you have a whole greenhouse devoted to these lovely, lovely plants Spritz...??

12 Nov, 2009

Seaburngirl

you keep showing me gorgeous plants and i am certain in the colder climes of east yorkshire i wont get much success. :o)

12 Nov, 2009

Spritzhenry

I've left space in my new greenhouse for them, Alice - I hope they'll all fit in! I shall have to get my shoehorn out again! LOL.

Sbg - it was Bonkersbon who managed to have one survive last winter, you know!

12 Nov, 2009

Seaburngirl

ooh thats encouraging. see you are tempting me again.

12 Nov, 2009

Spritzhenry

I don't know which one it was, though - nor does he! Soooorrrrrryyyy....

12 Nov, 2009

Drc726

Lovely colours Spritz I can see why you like them so much your green house will be full? But plants like company so fingers crossed they will be ok.

12 Nov, 2009

Doon

A wow factor. Gorgeous plants, great blog. Will look for these next year.

12 Nov, 2009

Ian_digs_v2

I still think we should all call you "Your royal GoYness" Lol

Only joking B. ;~)))

12 Nov, 2009

Grindle

I love them all:)

13 Nov, 2009

Louise1

That's quite a collection Spritz !!!
:-)))

13 Nov, 2009

Toto

They are all beautiful. I didn't know that there are so many. Good luck with shoe horning them into your greenhouse and with overwintering them successfuly.

13 Nov, 2009

Pipsqueak

Thanks Spritz for teaching me about another collection of plants. I look forward to your blogs as they introduce me to so much more. Trouble is my wishlist is getting much bigger than my garden will be LoL :~))

13 Nov, 2009

Bornagain

I understand why you've fallen in love with them Spritz. I did when i saw them for the first time this year in a neighbours new garden, I think it was painters palette that caught my eye most it's amazing, and I haven't had the courage yet to tell her that they'll almost certainly be lost, especially if fleecing didn't help in your balmy climate! She has at least six:-(

13 Nov, 2009

Spritzhenry

Oh dearie me - Ba!!! You'll just HAVE to break the news to her, won't you! Double or even treble fleece could be needed, in frosty conditions!

And - Pip - thanks for the lovely comment! Maybe this is one to admire, rather then grow - or have just one in a pot to take inside?

13 Nov, 2009

Bornagain

Do you think that eventually they would harden with age, if you could keep them long enough they might acclimatize?

13 Nov, 2009

Hollyeves

lovely collection of plants........

13 Nov, 2009

Spritzhenry

No, Ba - I very much doubt it, sadly. The very first one I had - 'Karo Red' was growing well, and had been OK through the previous (milder) winter, but it succumbed to the hard frosts, all the same! It might be that all of this new lot would come through a mild winter in this area - but I'm not risking it!

Thanks, Holly. :-)

13 Nov, 2009

Pansypotter

A wonderful collection Spritz, love all the different colours, hope you have better luck with this collection.

13 Nov, 2009

Clarice

Thanks for the blog photos and info....

13 Nov, 2009

Spritzhenry

Thanks, Pp. and Clarice, too! xx

13 Nov, 2009

Sanbaz

lovely blog barbara, love the pinky colours best, great pics and info :o))

13 Nov, 2009

Spritzhenry

Glad you liked my 'wow' shrubs, Sandra! :-))

14 Nov, 2009

Cristina

rmmm now i sure i got some of these this year have to go out and cke urrrrg do i have to protect them

28 Oct, 2010

Spritzhenry

You do indeed, Cristina - frost will kill them, for sure. Can you take them somewhere frost-free?

28 Oct, 2010

Cristina

right went out found it and covered it up with a cloch 4 now think its lemon and lime

28 Oct, 2010

Spritzhenry

That's a lovely one. A cloche won't be enough protection in a hard frost, I'm afraid, Cristina. :-((( Sorry....

28 Oct, 2010

Jackrussell

Hi everyone, Iv,e just bought a Coprosma, it was the only one the garden centre had, ( Coprosma that is ) I liked the look of it and I thought ( wrongly it seems ) that it would look nice sitting in a pot at the front of my house, I needed something striking to brighten up the dull winter days and something not to over powering ,but noticeable, So I thought I would check out what I needed to do to do it justice, good job I did as I would most deffinitely have " lost " it, Now it is going to sit in my conservatory over winter ( will that be ok? it can get cold in there but not freezing ) and we will have the pleasure of it.I am still pleased I bought it as it seems it is a lovely plant ,so thank you all for your comments even though some of them go back a long way, just proves the value of " Grows on You. by the way its the Lemon and Lime.

9 Nov, 2014

Spritzhenry

That's a lovely one, and I hope you can keep it safe from the 'real' cold.

10 Nov, 2014

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