<previous next>

Copperleaf

Shrub type: Deciduous (Stores water in its stem)

This colossal shrub grows up to 13 feet (4.0 meters) tall and lives for around 13 years. It is very resistant to disease but is susceptible to destructive insect infestation.

It has many narrow, crooked stems covered in paper-thin, wrinkled, copper-coloured bark, and the wood inside is white.

The branches trail down towards the ground with hundreds of twigs that and are covered with small bunches of large, 9 pointed, leaves with toothed edges. The leaves themselves are cream at the bottom and silver with florescent green streaks at the top, frail and clammy.

It produces a handful of small, violet flowers with stiff, pointed petals with a bell-shaped floral cup. They are very delicate and have an intensely strong scent that smells like honeysuckle. In early summer it forms largemagenta aril (seeds with fleshy covers).

It can survive a long time without water.
It is suitable for creating fine, soft textiles
It coexists peacefully with other plants.