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Coprosma repens 'Taupata Gold' (Gold Splash Mirror Plant) - A medium sized compact evergreen shrub to 4 to 5 feet tall and wide with rounded shiny green leaves that are variegated along the leaf margins with vibrant yellow; particularly showy in fall and winter months.
Except near the coast, where it can take full sun, Coprosma repens does best in part sun or light shade in warmer climates where it performs best in a well-drained soil with regular to occasional irrigation but is fairly drought tolerant once established. Cold tolerant down to about 18 to 20 degrees F. A great plant to brighten up the outdoor landscape and particularly useful in coastal gardens where it tolerates wind and salt spray. In can also be used in bright areas as an interior house plant.
The species was originally first encountered by Daniel Solander and Joseph Banks on the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand in 1769 while on James Cooks first expedition on the HMS Endeavour. It was found growing on coastal rocks, cliffs, coastal forests throughout North Island and along the west coast of South Island as well as on the Kermadec and Three Kings Islands. The name for the genus comes from the Greek words 'kopros' meaning "dung" and 'osme' meaning "smell" in reference to the foul cabbage like smell produced by methanethiol that is given out when the leaves of some species are crushed. The specific epithet means creeping. Other common names included Taupata, Looking-glass Bush, Shiny Leaf and New Zealand Laurel, a name it shares this with Corynocarpus laevigatus.
This cultivar originated at Graeme Platt's nursery in Albany New Zealand. It was a variegated seedling selected form found amongst a seed crop of otherwise green Coprosma repens seedlings. Platt initially sold as Coprosma repens 'Gold Splash' but it was later renamed to Coprosma repens 'Taupata Gold' by Lyndale Nurseries for marketing purposes. It has the reverse variegation from the older cultivar 'Picturata' ('Exotica') that has leaves with green margins and yellow centers.
Information displayed on this page about Coprosma repens 'Taupata Gold' is based on our research conducted about this plant in our nursery library as well as from information provided by reliable online resources. We also include our own observations made about it as it has grown in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant performed in the containers in our nursery field. We will also include comments received from others and welcome hearing from anyone who has information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information aiding others to better grow it.
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