Copperwood

This short shrub grows up to 1 foot (30.5 cm) tall and lives for around 33 years. It is very resistant to destructive insect infestation but susceptible to disease.

It has several very thick, twisting stems covered in thin, knobbly, brown and grey bark, and the wood inside is copper-coloured.

The branches trail down towards the ground with thousands of twigs that and are covered with small bunches of tiny, long, narrow, leaves with smooth edges. The leaves themselves are found in violet and pink varieties, tough and leathery.

In late summer it produces many bunches of medium-sized, violet blossoms with 3 pointed petals with a tube-like floral cup. They are hardy and have a fairly strong scent that smells like leather.

In early autumn small wide fruits ripen. The rough orange skin is delicate and edible when roasted; it is sweet and spicy, and the slightly crunchy ashy orange flesh is sweet and very dry. The yellow seed is small and sits at the top of the fruit.