Burgundy Waxybloom

This short shrub grows up to 1 foot (30.5 cm) tall and lives for around 100 years. It is not very resistant to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has many thick, straight stems covered in fine, wrinkled, burgundy bark, and the wood inside is pale yellow.

The branches are short stubs that and are covered with sparse amounts of tiny, pleated, leaves with irregular edges. The leaves themselves are solid dark grey with gold edges, rigid and waxy.

In early spring it produces dozens of medium-sized, deep blue blossoms with slender, pointed petals. They fall easily and have a soft scent that smells like wet dog.

In late winter small hourglass-shaped fruits ripen. The fuzzy dark red skin is delicate and inedible, and the crunchy gold flesh is savoury and very dry. The muted yellow seeds are large and are located in the centre of the fruit.