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Caramel

Shrub type: Deciduous (Grows upwards by winding itself around other objects and plants.)

This short shrub grows up to 1 foot (30.5 cm) tall and lives for decades, with the oldest known specimen being around 168 years old. It is somewhat resistant to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has dozens of long and flexible, wavy stems covered in very thick, knobbly, black bark, and the wood inside is pale yellow.

The branches are short stubs with thousands of twigs that and are covered with small amounts of tiny, thin, leaves with serrated edges. The leaves themselves are either caramel, or slate with cyan edges, resistant and smooth.

In late spring it produces handfuls of medium-sized, hazel blossoms with needle-like petals with a bell-shaped floral cup. They are sturdy and have an overpowering scent that smells like sweat.

In late autumn large fan-like fruits ripen. The soft dark grey skin is stretchy and edible when cooked; it is salty, and the very soft slate flesh is savoury and syrupy. The green seed is small and sits at the end of the fruit.

It is suitable for making paper
It grows well in the sun and full shade.
The colour changes depends on whether the soil is acidic or alkaline.