Turquoise Sagebrush

This big shrub grows up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) tall and lives for decades, with the oldest known specimen being around 154 years old. It is susceptible to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has dozens of thick, angular stems covered in very thick, silky, black bark, and the wood inside is silver.

The branches are very long and thick with thousands of twigs that and are covered with handfuls of tiny, broad, flat, leaves with toothed edges. The leaves themselves are generally turquoise, durable and soft.

In late spring it produces thousands of small, caramel blossoms with broad, flat petals. They are very delicate and have a strong scent that smells like a woman.

In midwinter large spherical fruits ripen. The fuzzy orange skin is thick and savoury, and the slightly crunchy copper flesh is spicy and sour and very dry. The hazel seeds are small and are scattered throughout the fruit.