Copperbark

This big shrub grows up to 5 feet (1.5 meters) tall and lives for decades, with the oldest known specimen being around 190 years old. It is very resistant to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has many very thick, straight stems covered in very thick, knobbly, copper-coloured bark, and the wood inside is silver.

The branches are short stubs with hundreds of twigs that and are covered with small amounts of small, stiff, pointed, leaves with toothed edges. The leaves themselves are either white, or dark grey with lilac patches, tough and smooth.

In early spring it produces dozens of tiny, brilliant red blossoms with many layers of petals with a tube-like floral cup. They are sturdy and have a fairly strong scent that smells like marzipan.

In late autumn small circular fruits ripen. The hairy deep purple skin is thin and edible when roasted; it is sweet, and the soft dark grey flesh is sweet and salty and syrupy. The pastel green seeds are large and are bunched at the top of the fruit.