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Violet Saffron Bush

Shrub type: Deciduous (Stores water in its leaves)

This big shrub grows up to 7 feet (2.1 meters) tall and lives for around 35 years. It is very susceptible to disease and insect infestation.

It has numerous long and flexible, straight stems covered in hard, smooth, yellow-brown bark, and the wood inside is pale brown-grey.

The branches are short, rigid and upright with dozens of twigs that and are covered with copious amounts of tiny, very narrow and elongated, leaves with tattered edges. The leaves themselves are either bronze, or green with white dots, tough and soft.

In late spring it produces several large, bronze blossoms with circular petals. They are very delicate and have a mildly strong scent that smells like rotten egg.

In late winter small cuboid fruits ripen. The waxy violet skin is delicate and savoury, and the very soft green flesh is bitter and savoury and syrupy. The green seed is large and sits at the end of the fruit.

It is very rare outside of a particular area.
It spreads easily and often blanket large areas.
It is suitable for creating fine, soft textiles