Coprosma Rainbow Surprise Looking-glass Plant

Coprosma Rainbow Surprise is a variegated evergreen shrub with multicoloured leaves throughout the seasons. It’s a good choice for coastal gardens and warm sheltered courtyards.

Coprosma is native to New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific Ocean islands. It’s often called the Looking-Glass Plant or Mirror Plant because its leaves are shiny even in salt-laden areas.

The cultivar Looking Glass Plant Rainbow Surprise was bred for its multi-hued foliage. Its leaves are leathery, rounded glossy ovals that emerge dark green in the centre with a paler green margin. Its marginal colour varies from plant to plant, so a mix of pink and yellow- cream is often included. In autumn its foliage matures to rich orange-red, making it one of the few evergreen shrubs with good autumn colour. 
New foliage appears in spring alongside insignificant white flower tufts.

This is an excellent foliage plant for mild coastal areas that covers the soil with a multitude of rainbows hues all months of the year.

Height And Spread of Coprosma Rainbow Surprise
Mirror Plant Rainbow Surprise is a compact shrub that reaches a maximum height and spread of two metres over 10-20 years.

How Hardy Is Coprosma Rainbow Surprise
It’s hardy in coastal and mild areas of the UK. In central or northern areas it will need frost protection in a sheltered spot.

How To Use Coprosma Rainbow Surprise
This is a lovely foliage plant for coastal areas, courtyards, and cottage gardens. Wall side borders are a good spot for Mirror Plant Rainbow Surprise too. It’s low maintenance and gives lots of colour in return for very little effort.
Wildlife appreciates its thick, compact cover and the stems are long-lasting in flower arrangements. It will grow in well-watered and fed containers to brighten a sunny balcony or patio too.

How To Care For Coprosma Rainbow Surprise
Choose a sheltered spot in full sun or partial shade. A south or west-facing aspect is best. Although it will cope in most well-drained soils, Looking Glass Plant Rainbow Surprise prefers neutral to acidic loamy ground.
Pruning isn’t required, but you can shape it or remove wayward branches before the new growth appears in spring. Water well until it’s established and apply a thick layer of mulch to the roots in spring.
Container-grown specimens need regular fertiliser and should be propped up on feet to aid drainage.