Copperleaf

This small shrub grows up to 1 foot (30.5 cm) tall and lives for around 73 years. It is very resistant to disease but is susceptible to destructive insect infestation.

It has several thick, crooked stems covered in wrinkled, copper-coloured bark, and the wood inside is yellow.

The branches are short, rigid and upright with thousands of twigs that and are covered with large amounts of tiny, broad, flat, leaves with serrated edges. The leaves themselves are aquamarine on the edges and light grey at the center, delicate and covered in fine hairs.

In early spring it produces large amounts of large, crimson blossoms with circular petals with a bell-shaped floral cup. They are hardy and have a delicate scent that smells like sugar.

In early winter small needle-like fruits ripen. The leathery blue skin is tough and inedible, and the very soft brown flesh is bitter and savoury and dry. The lime seed is small and sits at the top of the fruit.