Copper

This short shrub grows up to 1 foot (30.5 cm) tall and lives for around 97 years. It is very resistant to destructive insect infestation but susceptible to disease.

It has numerous very thick, angular stems covered in ridged, copper-coloured bark, and the wood inside is dark brown.

The branches are short and thin with hundreds of twigs that and are covered with thick bunches of tiny, needle-like, leaves with smooth edges. The leaves themselves are solid purple or amber, with blood red zig-zags, sturdy and covered in fine hairs.

In late summer it produces lots of giant, brilliant purple blossoms with long, tapering petals with a trumpet-shaped floral cup. They fall easily and have a weak scent that smells like onion.

In mid-autumn broad, flat fruits ripen. The smooth olive skin is peel-able and inedible, and the soft beige flesh is salty and sticky. The light grey seeds are large and are scattered throughout the fruit.