Coprosma robusta or karamu is endemic to the North and South and Three Kings Islands. Is common throughout the country to as far south as North Otago. It is naturalised on the Chatham Islands within a small area between Waitangi and Owenga. It is commonly found throughout coastal, lowland and lower montane habitats within shrublands and open sites within forest  and swampland from sea-level to 1200m. Easily distinguished from all the other lowland, large-leaved Coprosma spp., by the seemingly entire leaves, which are finely toothed along the margins - this can be felt by dragging a finger tips along the leaf edge. Perhaps closest to Coprosma macrocarpa subsp. minor, with which it freely hybridizes, and from which the more simple leaf venation (not so reticulate), finely toothed leaf margins are useful distinctions. A rapid growing shrub to small tree capable of growing 2-3m but can get up to 6m tall and is good for filling a gap and is used a lot in revegetation plantings. It is quite often with vast amounts of orange- red fruit for long periods that birds find attractive. Can be pruned to shape if required and can form a rather dense well-shaped bush.  Will handle most conditions including extreme frost and coastal sites. Karamu was quite often used in various ways by pre-European Maori priests. It was first discovered by Banks and Solander on the east coast of the North Island.