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Turquoiseberry

Shrub type: Coniferous (Stores water in its stem)

This average-sized shrub grows up to 2 feet (61.0 cm) tall and lives for around 88 years. It is very resistant to disease but is susceptible to destructive insect infestation.

It has numerous wide, angular stems covered in paper-thin, wrinkled, black with white speckled bark, and the wood inside is pale brown.

The branches are long and thick with thousands of twigs that and are covered with small bunches of tiny, wispy, leaves with rounded edges. The leaves themselves are dark yellow and azure, robust and waxy.

In late summer it produces a handful of medium-sized, dark brown blossoms with needle-like petals with a tube-like floral cup. They are sturdy and have a fairly strong scent that smells like freshly baked bread.

In early autumn tiny oval fruits ripen. The hairy lime skin is stretchy and inedible, and the soft turquoise flesh is bitter and juicy. The vivid red seed is small and sits at the end of the fruit.

It comes in 44 varieties.
It is suitable for creating flexible, durable textiles
It is difficult to kill and will quickly regrow if cut.