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Magenta

Shrub type: Deciduous (Stores water in the thickened base of its stem)

This large shrub grows up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) tall and lives for decades, with the oldest known specimen being around 159 years old. It is susceptible to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has many knobbly, straight stems covered in delicate, smooth, black with white speckled bark, and the wood inside is pine-coloured.

The branches trail down to the ground with dozens of twigs that and are covered with sparse amounts of huge, slender, pointed, leaves with wavy edges. The leaves themselves are solid white with magenta streaks, rigid and smooth.

It produces thick bunches of small, olive flowers with needle-like petals with a bell-shaped floral cup. They are very delicate and have a mildly strong scent that smells like new carpet. In late spring it forms tinycream, spiky-shelled seeds.

It makes a distinctive sound when the wind blows through it.
It can survive a long time without water.
It spreads easily and often blanket large areas.
It is suitable for use as a construction material