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Copperwood

Shrub type: Deciduous (Stores water in its stem)

This enormous shrub grows up to 10 feet (3.0 meters) tall and lives for around 48 years. It is susceptible to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has many branched, wavy stems covered in thin, wrinkled, copper-coloured bark, and the wood inside is burgundy.

The branches trail down towards the ground with dozens of twigs that and are covered with small amounts of miniature, thin, leaves with tattered edges. The leaves themselves are either dark brown, or silver with beige zig-zags, flimsy and smooth.

It produces thick bunches of tiny, brown flowers with asymmetrical petals with a tube-like floral cup. They fall easily and have an intensely strong scent that smells like candle wax. In late spring it forms giantcream, spiky-shelled seeds.

It is suitable for making paper
The leaves are bland but very healthy.
It out-competes most other plants for nutrients and light.