Clinging Conifer

This small shrub grows up to 1 foot (30.5 cm) tall and lives for around 47 years. It is not very resistant to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has numerous thick, wavy stems covered in thick, rough, light brown bark, and the wood inside is silver.

The branches trail down towards the ground with thousands of twigs that and are covered with large amounts of large, spear shaped, leaves with serrated edges. The leaves themselves are dark grey and orange, tough and waxy.

In late spring it produces several giant, sky blue blossoms with 4 pointed petals with a bell-shaped floral cup. They are hardy and have an intensely strong scent that smells like skunk spray.

In early autumn stiff, pointed fruits ripen. The rubbery drab purple skin is delicate and sour and savoury, and the very soft dark grey flesh is sweet and powdery. The orange seeds are small and are scattered throughout the fruit.