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Copperleaf

Shrub type: Deciduous (Stores water in its leaves)

This big shrub grows up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) tall and lives for around 25 years. It is very resistant to disease but is susceptible to destructive insect infestation.

It has numerous slender, curved stems covered in thin, smooth, silver and white bark, and the wood inside is mahogany-coloured.

The branches are short, rigid and upright with dozens of twigs that and are covered with copious amounts of small, sickle shaped, leaves with irregular edges. The leaves themselves are solid copper with cream edges, rigid and rough.

It produces a handful of medium-sized, bold purple flowers with slender, pointed petals. They fall easily and have a strong scent that smells like lavender. In early summer it forms largelight brown, winged seeds that spin and fall nearby.

The leaves are overwhelmingly toxic, and very bitter.
It is suitable for creating strong, durable textiles
It comes in 77 varieties.
It blooms only at night.