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Bronzeberry

Shrub type: Deciduous (Grows upwards by clinging to almost any surface.)

This large shrub grows up to 9 feet (2.7 meters) tall and lives for around 38 years. It is very resistant to destructive insect infestation but susceptible to disease.

It has dozens of flexible, wonky stems covered in waxy, yellow-brown bark, and the wood inside is light brown.

The branches trail down to the ground with dozens of twigs that and are covered with handfuls of tiny, very narrow and elongated, leaves with smooth edges. The leaves themselves are solid slate or lilac, with intense red streaks, sturdy and fuzzy.

In mid-spring it produces dozens of medium-sized, silver blossoms with wide petals with a tube-like floral cup. They are very delicate and have a faint scent that smells like cigarette smoke.

In late winter small circular fruits ripen. The waxy blue skin is thin and edible when cooked; it is bitter and savoury, and the very soft brown flesh is overwhelmingly salty and juicy. The bronze seeds are tiny and are dotted around on the skin of the fruit.

Once on fire, it burns very quickly.
It is suitable for making paper
The colour changes depends on whether the soil is acidic or alkaline.