Candleberry

This short shrub grows up to 1 foot (30.5 cm) tall and lives for decades, with the oldest known specimen being around 134 years old. It is very resistant to disease but is susceptible to destructive insect infestation.

It has many narrow, straight stems covered in very thick, wrinkled, yellow bark, and the wood inside is white with black speckles.

The branches are tall, rigid and upright with hundreds of twigs that and are covered with copious amounts of tiny, 3 pointed, leaves with tattered edges. The leaves themselves are generally cream, rigid and waxy.

In mid-spring it produces dozens of small, intense blue blossoms with teardrop-shaped shaped petals. They fall easily and have a powerful scent that smells like candle wax.

In early autumn small spherical fruits ripen. The rubbery silver skin is peel-able and sweet, and the soft white flesh is sweet and syrupy. The crimson seeds are small and are located in the centre of the fruit.