Communities

Scientific Name

Coprosma hirtella

Family Name

RUBIACEAE

Common Name

Coffee-berry

Status

Height

1.0m - 2.0m (100-200cm)

Flowers

Greenish flowers in small heads - male and female on separate plants.

Fruit

Berries or drupes

Form

Erect shrub.

Municipalities

Break O'Day; Burnie; Central Coast; Central Highlands; Circular Head; Derwent Valley; Devonport; Dorset; Flinders Island; Georgetown; Glamorgan-Spring Bay; Glenorchy; Hobart; Huon Valley; Kentish; Kingborough; Latrobe; Launceston; Meander Valley; Northern Midlands; Sorell; Southern Midlands; Tasman; Waratah-Wynyard; West Coast; West Tamar

Communities

Dry Eucalypt Forest and Woodland

Habitat Notes

Grows in open forest country often in small scattered colonies, on rocky hilsides and foothills of mountains

Site Tolerance

Rocky; Shady

Frost Tolerance

Soil Tolerance

Clay; Fertile; Loam; Poor; Well-drained

General Notes

Fire retardant. The fruit are eaten by various birds and mammals. The foliage provides refuge for small birds. Resistant to Phytophthora cinnamomi. Suitable below powerlines.

Propagation Details

Propagation Calendar

Flowering Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Seed Collecting Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Sowing Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Cutting Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Seed Information

Seed Collection

Fruit a round 2-seeded drupe. fruit turn from green to reddish-orange, occasionally chocolate brown, when ripe. harvest by hand and place into bags, or knock fruit onto groundsheets

Seed Treatment Method

Fermentation

Seed Storage Life

Viable Seeds Per Gram

Seed Treatment Notes

Place fruits into plastic bags and allow to ferment for several weeks. Remove the flesh from the fruit and sow seed soon after collection. Do not allow seed to dry out.

Germination Time

Suitable for Direct Seeding

Cuttings

Expected Time to Take Root

Expected Time to Plant Out

Propagation by Division N.B. Transplant only from nearby to avoid disease.

Cutting Notes

Also grown from stem cuttings which strike easily.