Black Cloud Mirror Bush is a compact evergreen shrub from the Coprosma genus, prized for its strikingly glossy, reflective foliage that seems to glow in sunlight. Native to New Zealand and other Pacific regions, this hardy cultivar thrives in USDA zones 8-10, reaching 12 to 48 inches tall and 24 to 36 inches wide, making it versatile enough for ground cover, hedging, or container growing. It asks for moderate water and maintenance, tolerating drought once established, and produces inconspicuous flowers in late spring that give way to colorful berries on female plants. This is a plant that earns its place through foliage drama and low-maintenance resilience rather than showy blooms.
Partial Sun
Moderate
8-10
48in H x 36in W
—
High
Hover over chart points for details
The glossy, mirror-like leaves of this Coprosma variety are its defining feature, reflecting light in a way that makes even small spaces feel luminous. It grows reliably in zones 8-10, preferring full sun but adapting gracefully to partial shade, and once established, it brushes off dry spells with ease. The compact form and moderate growth habit make it equally at home creeping across ground or forming a dense hedge, while its dislike of wet feet and humidity means it thrives in well-drained spots where many shrubs struggle.
Black Cloud Mirror Bush serves as a groundcover or hedge plant, valued for its ornamental foliage rather than for flowers or fruit. Its compact, spreading form makes it especially useful for defining garden edges, anchoring landscape beds, or providing year-round structure in mixed borders.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Transplant or plant nursery-grown Black Cloud Mirror Bush in spring once the danger of frost has passed in zones 8-10. Space plants 24 to 36 inches apart to accommodate their mature width. In colder regions, smaller plants can be grown in containers and moved indoors before winter temperatures drop below 25 degrees Fahrenheit.
Prune to maintain desired shape and size, removing any dead or damaged wood in spring. Light pruning encourages a bushier, more compact form and helps prevent the plant from becoming leggy.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.
“Coprosma encompasses more than 90 species of dioecious evergreen shrubs and small trees, the majority native to New Zealand, Australia, Polynesia, and Indonesia, with 13 species native to Hawaii. These plants have long been recognized for their striking foliage, earning the common name mirror plant in reference to their glossy, light-reflecting leaves. Black Cloud represents a cultivated selection within this diverse genus, preserved and distributed through nursery cultivation to bring the genus's distinctive ornamental qualities to gardens across warmer regions.”