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Crimson Willow

Shrub type: Deciduous (Stores water in its leaves)

This colossal shrub grows up to 11 feet (3.4 meters) tall and lives for around 63 years. It is somewhat resistant to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has numerous sturdy, wavy stems covered in delicate, smooth, burgundy and brown bark, and the wood inside is silver.

The branches are short stubs that and are covered with large amounts of huge, wispy, leaves with wavy edges. The leaves themselves are solid pink or intense purple, with light red dots, resilient and fuzzy.

In early summer it produces a handful of small, grey blossoms with long, narrow petals with a bell-shaped floral cup. They fall easily and have an intensely strong scent that smells like lavender.

In midwinter large crescent-shaped fruits ripen. The hairy crimson skin is peel-able and edible when boiled; it is savoury, and the crunchy turquoise flesh is sweet and very dry. The gentle orange seed is very large and is in the centre of the fruit.

The leaves are bland but very healthy.
The colour changes depends on whether the soil is acidic or alkaline.
It is suitable for creating flexible, durable textiles
It can survive a long time without water.