Watermelon Willow

This average-sized shrub grows up to 3 feet (91.4 cm) tall and lives for decades, with the oldest known specimen being around 193 years old. It is very resistant to disease but is susceptible to destructive insect infestation.

It has numerous wide, wonky stems covered in paper-thin, wrinkled, brown and grey bark, and the wood inside is burgundy-brown.

The branches trail down towards the ground with thousands of twigs that and are covered with handfuls of huge, long, tapering, leaves with ripped edges. The leaves themselves are found in caramel, gold and pink varieties, delicate and fuzzy.

In late summer it produces hundreds of giant, magenta flowers with 9 cylindrical shaped petals. They fall easily and have a strong scent that smells like alcohol.