Nertera depressa

Coral Bead or  Pincushion plant. Forms a mat of very small leaves and features many colourful bright orange-red berries. Pressed to the ground (depressa means flat and Nertera is greek for lowly) and up to 1m wide. Performs best in fully moist soil in part shade. Can be distinguished from Nertera ciliata by the strong smell of the leaves when they’re crushed (smells like Coprosma foetidissima does when the leaves are crushed).

They might look like bright plastic orange beads, but they are not stuck on. It’s widespread in nature found in mountain regions of Peru, Cape Horn, New Guinea, Tasmania and New Zealand. This plant was much used by the Victorians. Huge numbers were grown in pots under cover until berries set in early summer. They were used in bedding schemes especially in greenhouses.

Division in spring into free draining gritty compost and kept in a cool position.

The photograph and information about Victorian gardens is from the Hartley Greenhouse magazine.