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Burgundy Willow

Shrub type: Deciduous (Stores water in its stem)

This average-sized shrub grows up to 3 feet (91.4 cm) tall and lives for around 33 years. It is susceptible to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has several slender, straight stems covered in thick, cracked, gray bark, and the wood inside is burgundy.

The branches are very short and slender with hundreds of twigs that and are covered with copious amounts of giant, finger-like, leaves with wavy edges. The leaves themselves are a shade of white that gradient shifts to bold orange at the top, flimsy and smooth.

In late summer it produces handfuls of medium-sized, indigo blossoms with stiff, pointed petals with a trumpet-shaped floral cup. They fall easily and have a soft scent that smells like cotton.

In early autumn tiny needle-like fruits ripen. The hairy brown skin is thick and edible when roasted; it is spicy and savoury, and the very soft violet flesh is sweet and spicy and juicy. The light grey seeds are small and are dotted around on the skin of the fruit.

It is suitable for making strong rope
The entire plant is edible and the grains areslightly salty.
It is almost impossible to grow from cuttings.