Coprosma brunnea is a sprawling, evergreen shrub native to New Zealand's South Island and Stewart Island. It typically forms dense, wiry mats up to 2 meters across and occasionally reaches heights over 1 meter in scrub environments. The plant features slender, interlacing branches with pale orange, slightly fuzzy tips, and small, narrow leaves that are dark brownish-green. Inconspicuous flowers appear in clusters along the twigs, leading to bright blue berries in the autumn. It is commonly found in lowland to alpine regions, inhabiting stony riverbeds, terraces, and open rocky sites. Due to its dense and vigorous growth, it is often used as ground cover, particularly on banks, retaining walls, and in dry environments.