Coprosma 'Rainbow Surprise'PBR (v)

RHS Plant Profile
looking-glass plant 'Rainbow Surprise'

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looking-glass plant 'Rainbow Surprise' RHS
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'Rainbow Surprise' is a compact shrub up to 2.5m high with variegated evergreen oval leaves, olive green at the centre, and roughly edged with shades of lime-green, yellow, cream, pink and red, the pink and red being stronger in winter or cold weather; the flowers in spring are green, small and insignificant

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam

Max Height

1.5-2.5 metres

Max Spread

1.5-2.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
10–20 years
Max Spread
1.5-2.5 metres
Max Height
1.5-2.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H3

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Rubiaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Bushy
Genus
Coprosma are evergreen shrubs with leathery, simple leaves and insignificant dioecious flowers, followed by colourful berries on female plants, where both sexes are grown together
Name Status
Accepted

How to Grow

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

Propagation

Propagate from semi-ripe cuttings in autumn

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Low Maintenance
  • Wall side borders

Pruning

Pruning group 8 (early-flowering evergreen shrubs) - usually no pruning required; the foliage can be used for flower arranging

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free