Rainbow Surprise Coprosma

Rainbow Surprise Coprosma (Coprosma repens 'Rainbow Surprise') is the low hedge for a garden that takes salt and wind on the chin. It settles at about 1.2m tall and 1.2m wide, with glossy cream and green leaves that flush pink and red as the weather cools, so the colour peaks in winter. Planted 60cm apart it closes into a low informal hedge.

Why you'll love it

• Colour when you need it most. The variegation takes on pink and red tones through the cold months, the opposite of how most shrubs behave.
• Built for the coast. Salt tolerant, wind tolerant and drought tolerant once established, so a seaside boundary does not burn it.
• A hedge you can reach over. At 1.2m it screens a bed or low fence line without blocking a view or needing a ladder.
• Very little upkeep. One shear a year keeps it dense, and the glossy foliage stays clean without spraying.

Where it works best

Low hedging and borders. Plant 60cm apart in a single row for an informal hedge that fills in within two seasons. The same spacing with one annual trim holds a tidy line along a path.

Coastal gardens. This is where it earns its place, handling salt spray and constant wind better than almost any variegated shrub. A sound front garden choice on an exposed block.

Mass planting and pots. Set 60cm apart across a bank for a block of light foliage colour, or use one in a 400mm pot where the winter tones sit at eye level.

Growing Rainbow Surprise Coprosma in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun brings out the strongest cream and deepest winter pinks; shade turns the plant loose and dull. It suits cool temperate, warm temperate, subtropical and Mediterranean gardens, and takes light frost only, so hard frosting inland and tableland districts are not for it.

Soil. Free draining soil is the one real requirement, including sand, which is part of why it thrives by the sea. On clay, plant on a raised mound and work compost through the bed.

Water and feed. Water twice a week through the first summer, then only in extended dry spells. A controlled release fertiliser in early spring keeps the variegation bright, though overfeeding pushes soft green growth instead of colour.

Pruning. Trim lightly from planting to build density. One shear in early spring, taking no more than a third, keeps the shape tight. Remove plain green shoots at the base, since reverted growth is stronger and crowds out the variegated foliage.

What to expect when it arrives

It is sold in one format, a pack of ten 140mm plants. That is enough for roughly a 6m run at 60cm spacing, so it suits a hedge, border or mass planting rather than a single feature. The plants are young but well branched.

Expect a quiet first month while roots establish, then steady growth, with the hedge continuous by the second season. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Plant choices that cope with salt and coastal wind
• Browse coastal and salt tolerant plants
• Compare hedging and screening options
• See other variegated foliage plants

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a hedge?

Sixty centimetres apart in a single row. That closes into a continuous low hedge within two seasons and still leaves room to fill out at the base.

Will it survive frost?

Light frost only. It comes through the occasional cold snap in a sheltered spot, but repeated hard frost damages the foliage, so cold inland gardens want something hardier.

Why is my plant losing its cream variegation?

Either too little sun or too much fertiliser. Move it into full sun if you can, ease off the feeding, and cut out fully green branches at the base.

Can I keep it lower than 1.2m?

Yes. An annual shear in early spring plus a light tidy after the summer flush holds it at 80cm to 1m without thinning the base.