Copperwind Fern

This small shrub grows up to 1 foot (30.5 cm) tall and lives for around 75 years. It is somewhat resistant to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has several branched, straight stems covered in waxy, copper-coloured bark, and the wood inside is burgundy.

The branches are very short, thin and wispy with hundreds of twigs that and are covered with small amounts of miniature, circular, leaves with smooth edges. The leaves themselves are generally orange, light and clammy.

In mid-spring it produces thousands of large, indigo blossoms with 4 spiral shaped petals. They are very delicate and have a weak scent that smells like a man.

In midwinter tiny long, tapering fruits ripen. The smooth magenta skin is thick and inedible, and the very soft sky blue flesh is sour and very dry. The gold seeds are small and are bunched at the bottom of the fruit.