Copperleaf

This average-sized shrub grows up to 2 feet (61.0 cm) tall and lives for around 37 years. It is susceptible to disease and destructive insect infestation.

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

The branches are short stubs with dozens of twigs that and are covered with handfuls of huge, perforated, leaves with irregular edges. The leaves themselves are gray-green with pink tips, robust and waxy.

In early summer it produces several large, blue blossoms with fan-like petals. They are hardy and have an overpowering scent that smells like vanilla.

In early autumn large 5 pointed fruits ripen. The rough grey skin is thin and bitter and savoury, and the slightly crunchy dull purple flesh is bitter and oily. The grey seed is very large and sits at the end of the fruit.