Silverbell Mangofern

This average-sized shrub grows up to 4 feet (1.2 meters) tall and lives for decades, with the oldest known specimen being around 120 years old. It is very resistant to disease but is susceptible to destructive insect infestation.

It has many knobbly, wavy stems covered in hard, silky, silver and white bark, and the wood inside is yellow-brown.

The branches are long and thin with thousands of twigs that and are covered with small bunches of tiny, long, tapering, leaves with wavy edges. The leaves themselves are generally drab green, hardy and clammy.

It produces lots of giant, indigo flowers with broad, flat petals with a bell-shaped floral cup. They are sturdy and have a powerful scent that smells like mango. In mid-summer it forms medium-sizedbronze aril (seeds with fleshy covers).