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Whispering Bellflower

Shrub type: Deciduous (Grows along the ground or other low surfaces.)

This small shrub grows up to 1 foot (30.5 cm) tall and lives for around 29 years. It is susceptible to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has several thick, curved stems covered in thin, smooth, light gray bark, and the wood inside is burgundy-brown.

The branches are short, rigid and upright with hundreds of twigs that and are covered with large amounts of giant, wispy, leaves with smooth edges. The leaves themselves are found in cyan, drab yellow and bold green varieties, delicate and crispy.

In early spring it produces many medium-sized, dark grey blossoms with slender, pointed petals with a bell-shaped floral cup. They detach easily and have an intensely strong scent that smells like a newborn baby.

In midwinter tiny long, narrow fruits ripen. The waxy grey skin is delicate and inedible, and the slightly crunchy hazel flesh is sour and very dry. The olive seed is very large and sits at the top of the fruit.

Array
The bark, wood and leaves are edible.
It is almost impossible to grow from cuttings.
It is very rare outside of a particular area.