Prickly Currant Bush, Native currant
Coprosma quadrifida

Family: Rubiaceae

What it is like

A prickly shrub about 2 m high. It often has many stems. It grows 2-4 m high and spreads 1-2 m wide. The branches are spiny. The leaves are 0.5-1.2 cm long by 0.3-0.5 cm wide. They are sword shaped and thin textured. The male and female flowers are on separate plants. The flowers are 0.4 cm long. The occur singly on the ends of short branches. They are green. The fruit is fleshy with a hard stone inside. It is 0.5-0.8 cm long and bright red.

There are about 90 Coprosma species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It occurs in cool, moist forests and gullies. In Tasmania it grows from sea level to 500 m altitude. It is drought and frost resistant. On Mt Roland. It suits hardiness zones 8-10. Melbourne Botanical Gardens. Tasmania Herbarium. Arboretum Tasmania.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia (country/location of origin), Tasmania (country/location of origin)

How it is used for food

The fruit can be used in puddings, pies, cakes and tarts. They are astringent and slightly sweet.

Edible parts

Fruit, seeds - coffee

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed or stem cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Moor, Morr

Synonyms

Canthium quadrifidum Labill.; Coprosma billardieri Hook. f. in Hook.;