Copperleaf

This modest-sized shrub grows up to 2 feet (61.0 cm) tall and lives for decades, with the oldest known specimen being around 125 years old. It is susceptible to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has dozens of knobbly, twisting stems covered in very thick, knobbly, pine-coloured bark, and the wood inside is copper-coloured.

The branches are long and thin with hundreds of twigs that and are covered with small bunches of huge, asymmetrical, leaves with toothed edges. The leaves themselves are purple at the bottom and aquamarine with turquoise dots at the top, flimsy and smooth.

In mid-spring it produces thousands of small, lilac blossoms with slender, pointed petals. They are sturdy and have a mildly strong scent that smells like sugar.

In early winter stiff, pointed fruits ripen. The sticky gold skin is stretchy and sweet, and the very soft silver flesh is extremely savoury and dry. The dark grey seeds are tiny and are scattered throughout the fruit.