Plant of the Week: Mirror, mirror...

This week Jane is bringing you a sneak peek of a fun new shrub that will come to garden centers in 2020, Wax Wings™ Coprosma. Also called mirror bush, you can see why. Its waxy, thick foliage shines like little colorful mirrors and each variety is so vivid!

I wish we could grow it in Michigan, but this is a southern plant for sure. So for you Texans, Floridians and the rest of you who don't see a speck of snow, ever, this plant's for you.

I fact, if you're a garden writer from zone 9 or warmer, shoot me a line and this summer (when it's safe to ship it) I'll send you a sample to try out in your own garden!

Now, on to Jane's Plant of the Week:

It's officially the holiday season.

Thanksgiving has come and gone, and there's no denying that the holiday season is here. For many people this time of the year means shopping, decorating, and lots of baking. We seem to collectively cram two months worth of calories into the weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year's. I don't go in for shopping and decorating, but admit to the baking part.

In colder climates, this time of the year also means the beginning of tropical vacation advertising. When there's a dip in the temperature you can count on the Jamaican tourist board to run ads showing their warm, sunny beaches and rum cocktails.

I can't go on a beach vacation right now, but maybe I'll spring for a tropical plant to help me through the winter. These Coprosma would work for that. They certainly are bright and cheerful. Some of our customers in colder climates have had success overwintering inside with other non-hardy plants like Sicilian Sunshine® Laurus and Jazz Hands® Loropetalum. I think that any of them would make the perfect hostess gift for a holiday party. Really, who needs another plate of cookies?

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Winter means evergreens, but not all evergreens are meant for the North Country.

We're very excited to have some warm climate evergreens to offer, come 2020: Wax Wings™ Coprosma. These were bred in New Zealand to have nice dense habits and glossy, vivid colors.

This one's for warm climates, it should be planted in USDA Zones 9-11 and it will grow 1-2.5' tall and 3' wide. They will grow in full sun or partial shade.

Wax Wings™ Coprosma come in three colors:

Wax Wings™ Gold has gold leaves with a green center. There may also be some orange color in there from time to time.

Wax Wings™ Gold Coprosma

Wax Wings™ Lime is yellow and green with a red margin. In summer and fall, it will be darker, with more red and bronze.

Wax Wings™ Lime Coprosma

Wax Wings™ Orange is a sport of 'Pina Colada' with better color and a more compact habit as well as improved sun scorch resistance.

Wax Wings™ Orange Coprosma

Plant of the Week is written by Jane Beggs-Joles.

Note from Natalie: Although this shrub doesn't like the cold, it's still a pretty tough character. The shiny foliage of Coprosma is tough enough to withstand wind and salt, so it's a great plant for those of you who live along a coastline. Easy-care Coprosma is also well suited for use as a filler plant or a low-fuss border.