Watermelon Willow

This small shrub grows up to 1 foot (30.5 cm) tall and lives for decades, with the oldest known specimen being around 192 years old. It is very resistant to disease but is susceptible to destructive insect infestation.

It has many narrow, straight stems covered in thick, smooth, yellow bark, and the wood inside is pine-coloured.

The branches are very short and slender that and are covered with large amounts of small, long, tapering, leaves with tattered edges. The leaves themselves are solid ashy yellow with blue edges, tough and soft.

In mid-spring it produces several giant, brown blossoms with sickle shaped petals with a trumpet-shaped floral cup. They detach easily and have the faintest scent that smells like warm cookies.

In late autumn fan-like fruits ripen. The leathery amber skin is thick and inedible, and the soft blood red flesh is slightly bitter and dry. The orange seeds are large and are scattered throughout the fruit.