Waxleaf Thornbush

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

It has numerous very thick, twisting stems covered in hard, waxy, brown-green bark, and the wood inside is pale brown.

The branches are short stubs with thousands of twigs that and are covered with copious amounts of small, broad, flat, leaves with irregular edges. The leaves themselves are caramel with light brown tips, resistant and clammy.

In mid-spring it produces large amounts of medium-sized, black blossoms with long, tapering petals. They are very delicate and have a scent that varies in strength that smells like cigarette smoke.

In mid-autumn tiny oblong fruits ripen. The sticky orange skin is tough and salty and sour, and the soft pink flesh is sweet and very juicy. The pastel orange seeds are small and are scattered throughout the fruit.