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Copperbrush

Shrub type: Coniferous (Grows upwards by clinging to almost any surface.)

This giant shrub grows up to 12 feet (3.7 meters) tall and lives for decades, with the oldest known specimen being around 170 years old. It is not very resistant to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has many narrow, twisting stems covered in thin, knobbly, copper-coloured bark, and the wood inside is silver.

The branches are tall, rigid and upright with thousands of twigs that and are covered with very large amounts of large, thick, leaves with rounded edges. The leaves themselves are generally orange, strong and fuzzy.

It produces large amounts of small, grey flowers with finger-like petals with a bell-shaped floral cup. They are very delicate and have a faint scent that smells like fish. In mid-summer it forms smallyellow aril (seeds with fleshy covers).

It makes a distinctive sound when the wind blows through it.
Several parts of the bine have medicinal properties.
It is almost impossible to grow from cuttings.
It is suitable for making baskets and the like