Can I grow this indoors?

Yes, it makes a great houseplant if you provide it with plenty of bright, indirect light.

How often should I prune it?

Prune it in late summer to maintain its shape or encourage denser growth.

Plant guide

Mirror Bush.

Coprosma repens

Pronounced kop-ROS-muh REE-penz

Also known as Creeping mirrorplant, Looking Glass Plant, Mirror Plant, New Zealand mirrorbush, Tree Bedstraw, looking-glass-bush, looking-glass-plant, mirrorplant

The mirror bush is a hardy evergreen shrub known for its glossy, reflective leaves. It is a popular choice for coastal gardens because it handles salt spray and wind quite well. You will love how its shiny foliage brightens up any outdoor space.

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Shrub
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 7 to 14 days
Mature size: 3 to 10 feet
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 9 to 11
Bloom time: Late spring to early summer

Care

Keep the soil consistently moist but never soggy to prevent root issues. Watch for yellowing leaves, which often signal that the plant is getting too much water. Prune it regularly to maintain a dense, bushy shape.

Watering: Water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Feeding: Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer during the active growing season.
Pruning: Trim back long stems in spring to encourage a fuller appearance.
Repotting: Move to a slightly larger container once the roots fill the current pot.
Soil: Well draining, sandy or loamy soil
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.5
Temperature: -5 to 35°C
Humidity: 40 to 70%
Drought tolerance: Moderate
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 10 to 20 years
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage holes.
Water sitting on the surface of the soil for too long.
Stunted growth during the active season.

Safety

People: This plant is generally considered non-toxic to humans.
Pets: This plant is generally considered non toxic to cats and dogs.
Children: The small, bright berries could be a choking hazard for small children if ingested.
Contact allergens: The foliage is generally safe, but some people may experience mild skin irritation from the sap.
Airborne allergens: The wind-pollinated flowers may cause mild reactions in sensitive individuals during the flowering season.
Edibility: The berries are not considered edible for humans.

How to identify it

Highly glossy, oval shaped leaves
Leathery leaf texture
Small, inconspicuous flowers
Orange to red berries on females

Height: 1 to 3m
Spread: 1 to 3m
Leaves: glossy green, variegated yellow, variegated white, evergreen
Flowers: greenish white, 0.5 to 1cm
Fruit: orange, red, Autumn

Problems to watch for

Scale insects · Small sap-sucking insects that appear as bumps on stems and leaves.
Powdery mildew · A fungal infection that creates a white, dusty coating on the foliage.

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

Check your mirror bush from a photo

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Growing it

Propagation: cuttings, seed
When to plant: spring, autumn
Overwintering: In colder regions, move containers to a sheltered, frost-free location. If planted outdoors, provide a thick layer of mulch around the base to protect the roots from freezing temperatures.
In containers: It grows very well in containers, provided the pot is at least 30 cm in diameter and has excellent drainage.

Stem Cuttings

Take a 10 cm cutting from healthy, non-flowering growth in late summer.
Remove the lower leaves and dip the cut end in rooting hormone.
Plant in a well-draining potting mix and keep in a warm, bright spot until rooted.

Group this plant with other salt-tolerant species to create a resilient coastal garden border.

Grows well with

New Zealand Flax · They share similar coastal environmental requirements and provide a nice contrast in leaf texture.
Hebe · These shrubs thrive in the same conditions and offer complementary flowering times.

Similar species

Coprosma robusta · A related species with a more upright growth habit and larger leaves.

Science

Family: Rubiaceae
Genus: Coprosma
Order: Gentianales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: New Zealand
Conservation: Not of conservation concern as it is widely cultivated and common in its native range.

This plant is highly adapted to coastal cliffs and dunes, where it survives by tolerating salt spray and strong winds.

Value to wildlife: provides shelter for birds, fruit attracts birds
Pollinators: bees, beetles
Uses: coastal hedging, topiary, container plant, ornamental foliage

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 8/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 7/9
Temperature: 7/9
Moisture: 4/9
Nutrients: 4/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Can I grow this indoors?: Yes, it makes a great houseplant if you provide it with plenty of bright, indirect light.
How often should I prune it?: Prune it in late summer to maintain its shape or encourage denser growth.

Where the name comes from

The name Coprosma refers to the unpleasant scent of the crushed leaves of some species, while repens means creeping or prostrate.

Good to know

It is commonly known as the mirror plant because of its highly reflective, glossy leaves.
It thrives in salty, windy coastal air that would kill many other shrubs.
The genus name Coprosma comes from the Greek words for dung and smell, referring to the odor of some species when crushed.
It is a popular choice for topiary because it handles frequent pruning very well.

Keep your mirror bush growing

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This guide was generated with AI on October 27, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.