About
Coprosma 'Rainbow Surprise' is a compact evergreen shrub that can reach heights of up to 2.5 meters. Its oval leaves feature a distinctive variegation, with an olive green core surrounded by margins of lime green, yellow, cream, pink, and red. The pink and red hues become more pronounced during colder months. In spring, the plant produces small, green flowers that are not particularly noteworthy.
About the genus
Coprosma comprises evergreen shrubs characterized by their tough, simple leaves. The flowers are dioecious and not particularly noticeable. When both male and female plants are cultivated in proximity, the female specimens produce vibrant berries.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun, Partial shade
- Soil type
- Loam
- Soil pH
- Acid, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H3
Plant details
- Plant type
- Shrubs
- Habit
- Bushy
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Height
- 1.5-2.5 metres
- Spread
- 1.5-2.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 10-20 years
- Suggested uses
- City and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow outdoors in moist but perfectly drained neutral to slightly acid soils in good light or dappled shade in a warm, sheltered position, or under glass in a peat-free, loam-based potting compost with added grit in bright filtered light with good ventilation
- Pruning
- Pruning group 8 (early-flowering evergreen shrubs) - usually no pruning required; the foliage can be used for flower arranging
- Propagation
- Propagate from semi-ripe cuttings in autumn
- Pest resistance
- Generally pest-free
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free