Copperbell

This average-sized shrub grows up to 2 feet (61.0 cm) tall and lives for around 61 years. It is very resistant to destructive insect infestation but susceptible to disease.

It has dozens of branched, wavy stems covered in knobbly, copper-coloured bark, and the wood inside is pale brown-grey.

The branches are short and thick with hundreds of twigs that and are covered with handfuls of giant, long, tapering, leaves with smooth edges. The leaves themselves are solid slate with aquamarine patches, tough and waxy.

In late summer it produces a handful of small, violet blossoms with pleated petals with a bell-shaped floral cup. They fall easily and have a soft scent that smells like a woman.

In mid-autumn tiny long, curved fruits ripen. The smooth sky blue skin is peel-able and inedible, and the slightly crunchy blood red flesh is savoury and oily. The grey seeds are tiny and are located in the centre of the fruit.