Copperwood

This large shrub grows up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) tall and lives for decades, with the oldest known specimen being around 165 years old. It is very resistant to disease but is susceptible to destructive insect infestation.

It has many stocky, curved stems covered in knobbly, copper-coloured bark, and the wood inside is dark brown.

The branches are short, rigid and upright that and are covered with large amounts of huge, thick, leaves with smooth edges. The leaves themselves are found in bronze, bronze and dark brown varieties, strong and rough.

In late summer it produces handfuls of giant, cyan blossoms with long, tapering petals. They detach easily and have a faint scent that smells like pepper.

In midwinter small long, narrow fruits ripen. The smooth purple skin is tough and inedible, and the soft lime flesh is spicy and very dry. The olive seed is tiny and sits at the end of the fruit.