Copperbell

This short shrub grows up to 1 foot (30.5 cm) tall and lives for around 56 years. It is somewhat resistant to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has many stocky, wonky stems covered in thick, silky, copper-coloured bark, and the wood inside is mahogany-coloured.

The branches trail down across the ground that and are covered with thick bunches of small, thin, leaves with rounded edges. The leaves themselves are solid amber or cream, with pale purple edges, flimsy and leathery.

In late summer it produces thousands of medium-sized, turquoise blossoms with 2 pointed petals with a bell-shaped floral cup. They detach easily and have a strong scent that smells like honeysuckle.

In late winter tiny fan-like fruits ripen. The crispy purple skin is thick and inedible, and the very soft crimson flesh is spicy and very juicy. The drab orange seeds are large and are located in the centre of the fruit.