Copper-Coloured

This large shrub grows up to 9 feet (2.7 meters) tall and lives for around 37 years. It is very resistant to disease but is susceptible to destructive insect infestation.

It has many thick, wavy stems covered in cracked, copper-coloured bark, and the wood inside is pale brown-grey.

The branches are tall, rigid and upright with hundreds of twigs that and are covered with copious amounts of small, slender, pointed, leaves with wavy edges. The leaves themselves are solid washed-out red or cream, with gentle yellow edges, flimsy and leathery.

In mid-spring it produces lots of small, yellow blossoms with shield-shaped shaped petals. They are sturdy and have an overpowering scent that smells like vanilla.

In late autumn oval fruits ripen. The waxy red skin is peel-able and very bitter, and the very soft dark grey flesh is sweet and dry. The orange seeds are large and are scattered throughout the fruit.