Copperleaf

This short shrub grows up to 1 foot (30.5 cm) tall and lives for around 45 years. It is somewhat resistant to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has dozens of flexible, curved stems covered in paper-thin, wrinkled, copper-coloured bark, and the wood inside is mahogany-coloured.

The branches are very short and thick that and are covered with thick bunches of miniature, very thin, leaves with jagged edges. The leaves themselves are solid lime or grey, with gold zig-zags, delicate and rough.

It produces a thick sheet of small, turquoise flowers with many layers of petals with a tube-like floral cup. They detach easily and have a strong scent that smells like garlic. In early autumn it forms tinycaramel, winged seeds that spin and fall nearby.