Family: Rubiaceae

Coprosma repens, commonly known as creeping mirrorplant or looking glass plant, is a fast-growing evergreen shrub native to coastal areas of New Zealand. It is easily recognized by its thick, glossy, oval-shaped leaves that look almost waxed, giving the plant a polished, mirror-like appearance. The plant produces small, inconspicuous flowers followed by fleshy orange to red berries. Because of its tolerance for salt spray, wind, drought, and poor soils, creeping mirrorplant has been widely planted as a hardy ornamental, hedge, or groundcover in coastal landscapes and urban settings.

Despite its popularity in landscaping, creeping mirrorplant poses significant ecological risks. It readily escapes cultivation and spreads through bird-dispersed seeds, allowing it to establish in coastal strand, shrubland, and other sensitive habitats. Once established, it can form dense thickets that outcompete native vegetation, reduce biodiversity, and alter natural plant communities. In Hawaiʻi and other island ecosystems, these traits make Coprosma repens a cause for concern, and its use is discouraged in favor of native or non-invasive alternatives that better support local ecosystems.

High Risk Traits:

• Naturalized outside native range (e.g., Australia)
  
• Forms dense thickets that shade out native plants
  
• Tolerates a wide range of soils and coastal conditions
  
• Shade-tolerant
  
• Bird-dispersed seeds; seeds survive gut passage
  
• Reproduces vegetatively (branch rooting)
  
• Resprouts after damage/fire; salt-tolerant
  
• Hybridizes with other species
  
• Intentionally planted (ornamental/coffee substitute)

Low Risk Traits:

• Not toxic to humans or animals
  
• No spines, thorns, or burrs
  
• Not allelopathic or parasitic
  
• Not a fire hazard
  
• Not a weed in agriculture/forestry
  
• Self-incompatible (dioecious)
  
• Not a prolific seed producer
  
• Controlled by herbicides (glyphosate)