<previous next>

Copper-colored

Shrub type: Deciduous (Stores water in its leaves)

This modest-sized shrub grows up to 2 feet (61.0 cm) tall and lives for around 31 years. It is very susceptible to disease and insect infestation.

It has several knobbly, wonky stems covered in hard, smooth, brown-green speckled bark, and the wood inside is copper-coloured.

The branches are short and thick with dozens of twigs that and are covered with handfuls of large, thin, leaves with irregular edges. The leaves themselves are hazel at the bottom and green with silver edges at the top, light and clammy.

In mid-summer it produces balls of large, bright green blossoms with finger-like petals with a trumpet-shaped floral cup. They are hardy and have a weak scent that smells like old books.

In early autumn broad, flat fruits ripen. The fuzzy grey skin is stretchy and edible when cooked; it is sweet and sour, and the very soft beige flesh is sweet and very dry. The caramel seed is very large and sits at the end of the fruit.

The pollen is very toxic to people but not to certain animals.
It is suitable for creating fine, soft textiles