Reflecting on Mirror Plants

Add a splash of color and shine to your garden with these show-stopping shrubs

The mirror flora ( Coprosmaspp . and cvs . , Zones 8–11 ) has several stunning mixed bag , but they all share some characteristic , foremost being that they are colored flora native to the coastal rock , drop , and forests of New Zealand . With mirror plants , the leaf is the ace and the flush just a supporting role player . They are members ofRubiaceae , with leaves that are among the shiniest , glossiest leaves you could find on the planet , hence the common name . As you could opine by their origins , mirror plants thrive in sea conditions , bring coastal winds and salt spraying in full sun . Inland they prefer a second more shade . They do well in well - drained territory with even irrigation but can become fairly drought large-minded once give . They mature mostly pyramidical in cast , are dusty tolerant down to about 20 ° F , are suitable for sunset zones 14 to 24 , and are generally deer resistant . Here are some of my favorite varieties .

Dwarf variegated mirror plant (Coprosma repens‘Marble Queen’, Zones 9–10)

Size:3 to 5 foot marvellous and 4 to 6 feet wide

Winner of the Royal Horticultural Society ’s Award of Garden Merit ( AGM ) in 2002 , this cultivar is probably my front-runner , with its subtly beautiful creamy white and green leaves . This sure as shooting would be my first pick as an midland houseplant . It has a pyramidical condition but spreads out along the Qaeda .

‘Evening Glow’ mirror plant (Coprosma‘Evening Glow’, Zones 9–10)

Size:5 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide

This cultivar is a very colorful , upright growing bush with a naturally pyramidic shape . Its many ovate leave-taking shine in much every shadiness of green with irregular yellow blotch that grow bright pink , rust-brown orange tree , and maroon in recent summertime through fall and remain that path until new emergence shoot in give .

‘Plum Hussey’ mirror plant (Coprosma repens‘Plum Hussey’, Zones 9–11)

Size:3 to 4 feet magniloquent and 3 to 4 feet broad

‘ Plum Hussey ’ puts out raw leaves that are lime green with a burgundy border and step by step become almost totally plum red and Bourgogne in their maturity . I have get wind it said that this cultivar can be hardy to 15 ° F , but since it is not the quickest - growing plant , I do n’t guess I would risk it . It may just take too long to recover .

‘Tequila Sunrise’ mirror plant (Coprosma‘Tequila Sunrise’, Zones 9a–11)

Size:5 feet marvelous and 3 foot wide of the mark

‘ Tequila Sunrise ’ might just be one of the showiest plants that does n’t produce a single bloom . It does the full in full sun , where the colors perfectly vibrate in their intensity . The leaf are pocket-sized , giving it a denser expression . They range in color from emerald green to gold , then bit by bit become more orange before deepening to gold . A sizzling show - conversation stopper of a plant life !

All mirror plants are great for brightening up a landscape . They do well as specimen plants , grown as a low hedge , or in mass planting . They also make endearing container plants and can even do well indoors if localize in a smart area . As a watercolor artist , I seek to imagine how I would paint a mirror flora . I would never paint any one of those leaf , of any cultivar , the same . Each individual leaf is a wonder in color pas seul .

— Francesca Corra , APLD , is a across the country demonstrate landscape painting designer and owner of Dirt Diva Designs , site in Studio City , California .

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