Copperleaf

This average-sized shrub grows up to 3 feet (91.4 cm) tall and lives for around 78 years. It is very resistant to destructive insect infestation but susceptible to disease.

It has dozens of very thick, wavy stems covered in cracked, copper-coloured bark, and the wood inside is burgundy-brown.

The branches are tall, rigid and upright with thousands of twigs that and are covered with small amounts of miniature, needle-like, leaves with smooth edges. The leaves themselves are magenta at the bottom and dark brown with turquoise streaks at the top, frail and sticky.

In late spring it produces a handful of small, cream blossoms with 6 pointed petals. They are hardy and have an overpowering scent that smells like a newborn baby.

In early winter perforated fruits ripen. The leathery hazel skin is tough and bitter and salty, and the very soft azure flesh is bitter and dry. The white seed is large and is in the centre of the fruit.