Copperleaf Tree

This short fruit tree grows up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) tall and lives for up to 20 years, with the oldest known specimen being around 43 years old. It is not very resistant to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has a wide, straight trunk covered in delicate, cracked, copper-coloured bark, and inside, the very dense wood is dark brown.

The branches are short, rigid and upright and are covered with handfuls of giant, fan-like leaves with smooth edges. The leaves themselves are either slate or blue, with intense red splotches.

In early spring, it produces handfuls of large, bright purple blossoms with needle-like petals. They fall easily and have a delicate scent that smells like fermented fruit.

In late autumn it produces small, long, tapering fruit. The soft pink skin is tough and inedible, and the soft white flesh is sweet and spicy and juicy. The beige seeds are tiny and are scattered throughout the fruit.

The roots are shallow and grow straight down, and overall the tree is sturdy and difficult to uproot.

Forests of this species feature the trees packed together densely, with patches of undergrowth between them.