Pine-Coloured

This colossal shrub grows up to 12 feet (3.7 meters) tall and lives for around 83 years. It is very resistant to disease but is susceptible to destructive insect infestation.

It has many wide, straight stems covered in thin, rough, light brown bark, and the wood inside is pine-coloured.

The branches are short, rigid and upright with dozens of twigs that and are covered with handfuls of huge, needle-like, leaves with tattered edges. The leaves themselves are found in lime, brown and grey varieties, flexible and waxy.

In late spring it produces several large, yellow blossoms with long, narrow petals with a bell-shaped floral cup. They are very delicate and have an overpowering scent that smells like roses.

In early winter small needle-like fruits ripen. The clammy pink skin is stretchy and edible when boiled; it is very savoury, and the soft cream flesh is slightly sour and oily. The light grey seeds are small and are scattered throughout the fruit.