One of the most common and easily recognised Coprosma species has spreading branches and leathery, dark green leaves up to 12 centimetres long with finely toothed margins. The small, insignificant flowers are followed by masses of showy orange-red berries that are sought after by native birds. It is a fast-growing pioneer shrub, often one of the first plants to appear in regenerating forest. The leaves are opposite, glossy on the upper surface, and paler underneath. The leaf margins are finely toothed, a feature that distinguishes karamū from other Coprosma species. The stems are stout and hairy when young, becoming smooth with age. The bark is dark grey and rough. Karamū flowers in spring. The flowers are small and greenish, not particularly showy, but they produce an abundance of nectar that attracts insects. The berries ripen in autumn and winter, turning bright orange-red. They are an important food source for kererū, tūī, and bellbirds, which eat the fruit and disperse the seeds. The species is widely used in restoration planting because it grows quickly, tolerates a range of conditions, and provides food for birds. It is also planted as a hedge or screen in gardens. Karamū can be pruned to maintain a desired shape and size. It is hardy and relatively disease-free. To find karamū is to find a common shrub of the forest edge. It is fast-growing, bird-friendly, and resilient, a pioneer that prepares the way for slower-growing trees. It is the shrub of the regenerating forest, the one that appears first and stays longest.