Magenta

This short shrub grows up to 1 foot (30.5 cm) tall and lives for around 43 years. It is not very resistant to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has several long and flexible, twisting stems covered in knobbly, dark gray bark, and the wood inside is pine-coloured.

The branches are long, thin and wispy with dozens of twigs that and are covered with thick bunches of large, stiff, pointed, leaves with smooth edges. The leaves themselves are generally sky blue, tough and fuzzy.

In early spring it produces large amounts of tiny, grey blossoms with 6 pointed petals. They are very delicate and have a weak scent that smells like leather.

In mid-autumn tiny stiff, pointed fruits ripen. The smooth magenta skin is thin and edible when cooked; it is sweet and savoury, and the very soft bold red flesh is very bitter and sticky. The cream seeds are small and are scattered throughout the fruit.