Copperleaf

This big shrub grows up to 9 feet (2.7 meters) tall and lives for around 69 years. It is very resistant to destructive insect infestation but susceptible to disease.

It has many wide, crooked stems covered in thick, rough, silver and white bark, and the wood inside is copper-coloured.

The branches are very long and thick with thousands of twigs that and are covered with sparse amounts of giant, asymmetrical, leaves with ripped edges. The leaves themselves are solid cream with black zig-zags, frail and waxy.

In late summer it produces several medium-sized, yellow blossoms with broad, flat petals. They are hardy and have a fairly strong scent that smells like marzipan.

In mid-autumn small long, curved fruits ripen. The hairy hazel skin is peel-able and sour, and the very soft azure flesh is sweet and very dry. The bronze seed is small and sits at the top of the fruit.