Bluebell shrub

This short shrub grows up to 1 foot (30.5 cm) tall and lives for around 40 years. It is susceptible to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has dozens of thick, wavy stems covered in fine, knobbly, light gray bark, and the wood inside is dark brown.

The branches are short, rigid and upright that and are covered with large amounts of tiny, heart-shaped, leaves with wavy edges. The leaves themselves are either bold yellow, or blue with peach streaks, rigid and leathery.

In mid-spring it produces lots of tiny, caramel blossoms with needle-like petals with a bell-shaped floral cup. They are sturdy and have an overpowering scent that smells like old books.

In midwinter hourglass-shaped fruits ripen. The rough blood red skin is thick and edible when boiled; it is sweet and sour, and the crunchy blue flesh is bitter and spicy and juicy. The dark brown seeds are tiny and are located in the centre of the fruit.