Bloodleaf Bush

This modest-sized shrub grows up to 4 feet (1.2 meters) tall and lives for around 14 years. It is very resistant to disease but is susceptible to destructive insect infestation.

It has dozens of narrow, angular stems covered in paper-thin, wrinkled, yellow bark, and the wood inside is burgundy.

The branches are very long and slender that and are covered with large amounts of small, wispy, leaves with wavy edges. The leaves themselves are generally blood red, frail and covered in fine hairs.

In early spring it produces several tiny, lime blossoms with shield-shaped shaped petals. They are sturdy and have a fairly strong scent that smells like leather.

In early winter long, narrow fruits ripen. The rubbery olive skin is stretchy and bitter, and the slightly crunchy dark grey flesh is salty and dry. The caramel seeds are tiny and are bunched at the top of the fruit.