Corokia

( kor - ROH - kee - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

Corokia is an evergreen shrub that needs full sun or partial shade and moderate water. Native to a variety of growing habitats across New Zealand, this shrub is known for its zig-zag branching habit. Small yellow flowers appear before red, orange or yellow fruits. These shrubs are great for the evening or nighttime garden; when lit from the bottom they show off their unique branching pattern and cast interesting shadows on walls and ceilings. Use these shrubs as coastal windbreaks, hedges and mass plantings, as topiaries, or as screening plants. They are commonly included in wildlife or drought-tolerant gardens.

corokia Species and Varietals

The genus Corokia, first described in 1839, includes 6 distinct species and is a member of the Argophyllaceae family. They are related to Cotoneaster. Corokia grows best in USDA hardiness zones 8-10 or Sunset growing zones 4-24. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Corokia cotoneaster (Wire-Netting Bush, Korokio, Korokia-Tarango)
This is a slow-growing species first described in 1846 by French naval surgeon and naturalist Etienne Raoul. They eventually reach 8-10 feet tall and just as wide. Reddish black, contorted branches with glossy green leaves that are white underneath. Yellow small flowers bloom from December to January, and are followed by orange or red fruit. Variety 'Little Prince' gets to four feet tall and has bright orange fruits.

Corokia x virgata (Wire Netting Bush, Wire Bush)
This shrub has a more erect growth, and slowly reaches 10 feet tall and 6 feet wide, albeit slowly. Can be used in pots, as accent plants, or as a hedge or screen. Varieties include 'Red Wonder' (with red fruits), 'Yellow Wonder' (with yellow fruits), 'Bronze King' (with bronze leaves), 'Bronze Lady' (with dark bronze foliage and bright red fruit), and 'Sunsplash' (bronze stems and bright green leaves with creamy edges).

Caring for corokia

Plant Corokia in late spring to early summertime in a spot that receives full sun and has well-draining but moist soil. These shrubs can tolerate wind (but not direct ocean spray). Ensure that soil is well-draining, rich in nutrients, and has a pH of between 6.0 and 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Apply a layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system in their new home. Corokias are considered low-maintenance plants that are commonly used as hedges, requiring little water once established.

Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. Pruning is simple; remove any damaged, diseased, dead, or crossing branches. Corokias can tolerate hard pruning carried out towards the end of the blooming season.
They are not cold-hardy, preferring temperatures that stay between 35 and 59 degrees Fahrenheit; hard frosts will kill them.
The growth rate for Corokia shrubs is slow to moderate (putting on between a few to 8 inches per year); trees can take between 5 and 15 years to reach their mature height. Shrubs have a life span of between 10 and 30 years in the landscape before needing to be replaced.

Propagation

Corokia can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your shrub, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Corokia by Cutting

Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. A good substrate for propagation of cuttings is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
In spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth on your propagated Abutilon, you'll know you have roots.
Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.

Propagating Corokia by Seed

Keep in mind that the Corokia plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
Harvest the fruits. Corokia seeds are contained inside of the fruits produced by shrubs in fall after flowers have faded. They are the size of a small cherry, and can be red, yellow, or orange, depending on the species. Bring fruits indoors and cut them open to reveal the hard seed inside. Rinse seeds under lukewarm water to remove fruit flesh, and then lay them out.
Cold-stratify the seeds in a sealed bag or other container in the refrigerator, keeping them moist but not wet by inserting a paper towel with the seeds and spraying it from time to time with a spray bottle. After four to six weeks has passed, take the seeds out of the refrigerator.
Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.