Golden Blossom Tree

This small tree grows up to 4 meters (13.1 feet) tall and lives for centuries, with the oldest known specimen being around 396 years old. It is very resistant to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has a stocky, angular trunk covered in fine, smooth, dark brown bark, and inside, the soft wood is silver.

The branches are very long and slender and are covered with handfuls of waxy, tiny, asymmetrical leaves with serrated edges. The leaves themselves are solid gold or peach, with hazel streaks.

In early spring, it produces thousands of large, lilac blossoms with long, narrow petals. They are hardy and have a strong scent that smells like pine needles.

In late summer it forms tiny, blood red, spiky-shelled seeds.

The roots are shallow and widely spread, and overall the tree is rigid and brittle.

Forests of this species feature the trees packed together densely, with the space between them filled with thick undergrowth.