Coprosma nitida – Mountain Currant seed x20

A native of Tasmania and Victoria where it prefers sandy or loamy well-drained acid to neutral soils in a sunny position or dappled shade. Its habitat is normally above 750 metres and is sub-alpine.

A dioecious (separate male and female plants), evergreen shrub growing to 2 metres with a spread of 2 metres. The stem is upright carrying many stiff branches with pointed ends; the leaves are lanceolate and 1.2cm long, the flowers are insignificant, white and either male or female; the fruit are red berries 6mm in diameter.  

There are several other uses for parts of this shrub. The roasted seeds make a good substitute for coffee, the berries are edible and a yellow dye (which doesn’t require a mordant) is obtained from the wood.

Propagation by seed needs patience as seed can germinate a full year after sowing.