Waterstem Bush

This average-sized shrub grows up to 4 feet (1.2 meters) tall and lives for decades, with the oldest known specimen being around 159 years old. It is not very resistant to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has numerous wide, straight stems covered in thin, waxy, dark green bark, and the wood inside is light brown.

The branches trail down to the ground with dozens of twigs that and are covered with large amounts of tiny, perforated, leaves with jagged edges. The leaves themselves are either white or blue, with lilac splotches, sturdy and clammy.

In mid-spring it produces a thick sheet of small, sky blue blossoms with long, narrow petals. They are very delicate and have a delicate scent that smells like meat.

In late winter small oval fruits ripen. The rubbery pink skin is delicate and inedible, and the very soft olive flesh is sweet and spicy and very juicy. The gold seed is small and is in the centre of the fruit.