Copperrose

This giant shrub grows up to 11 feet (3.4 meters) tall and lives for around 21 years. It is somewhat resistant to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has numerous slender, twisting stems covered in paper-thin, rough, dark brown bark, and the wood inside is burgundy.

The branches are tall, rigid and upright that and are covered with small amounts of tiny, sickle shaped, leaves with serrated edges. The leaves themselves are cream and pink, tough and leathery.

In late spring it produces large amounts of giant, copper blossoms with crescent-shaped shaped petals. They are hardy and have a strong scent that smells like old books.

In early winter small pleated fruits ripen. The crispy yellow skin is stretchy and inedible, and the very soft purple flesh is overwhelmingly sour and juicy. The green seed is tiny and is in the centre of the fruit.