Clinging Crimsonvine

This large shrub grows up to 7 feet (2.1 meters) tall and lives for decades, with the oldest known specimen being around 176 years old. It is very resistant to disease but is susceptible to destructive insect infestation.

It has several narrow, straight stems covered in very thick, smooth, burgundy bark, and the wood inside is pale yellow.

The branches are very long and thick with hundreds of twigs that and are covered with handfuls of small, very thin, leaves with smooth edges. The leaves themselves are a shade of caramel and slate that gradient shifts to bright red at the top, robust and waxy.

In early summer it produces many bunches of small, gold blossoms with asymmetrical petals with a bell-shaped floral cup. They are very delicate and have an overpowering scent that smells like rotten egg.

In late autumn tiny broad, flat fruits ripen. The soft slate skin is peel-able and sweet, and the slightly crunchy cream flesh is sour and very dry. The white seeds are small and are scattered throughout the fruit.