Silverneedle Bush

This massive shrub grows up to 13 feet (4.0 meters) tall and lives for decades, with the oldest known specimen being around 184 years old. It is susceptible to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has several very thick, straight stems covered in paper-thin, rough, brown-green speckled bark, and the wood inside is silver.

The branches trail down towards the ground with hundreds of twigs that and are covered with sparse amounts of tiny, needle-like, leaves with toothed edges. The leaves themselves are found in lilac, silver and aquamarine varieties, delicate and leathery.

In late summer it produces dozens of small, brilliant purple blossoms with finger-like petals with a trumpet-shaped floral cup. They are sturdy and have a scent whose strength depends on external factors, such as soil quality and rain frequency that smells like a damp log.

In midwinter spherical fruits ripen. The fuzzy indigo skin is stretchy and spicy and salty, and the very soft sky blue flesh is bitter and sticky. The dark brown seeds are small and are dotted around on the skin of the fruit.