Copperleaf Spiceberry

This average-sized shrub grows up to 4 feet (1.2 meters) tall and lives for decades, with the oldest known specimen being around 144 years old. It is not very resistant to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has dozens of narrow, curved stems covered in thin, smooth, copper-coloured bark, and the wood inside is gray.

The branches are long and thick with thousands of twigs that and are covered with small amounts of large, perforated, leaves with rounded edges. The leaves themselves are yellow-green with orange tips, light and soft.

In late spring it produces many balls of small, peach blossoms with 3 spiral shaped petals. They detach easily and have an intense scent that smells like new books.

In early autumn wide fruits ripen. The fuzzy bronze skin is thick and edible when boiled; it is sweet and spicy, and the crunchy dull red flesh is spicy and juicy. The brown seed is very large and is in the centre of the fruit.