Waterstem Bush

This small shrub grows up to 1 foot (30.5 cm) tall and lives for decades, with the oldest known specimen being around 136 years old. It is very resistant to destructive insect infestation but susceptible to disease.

It has several flexible, wonky stems covered in thick, ridged, light brown bark, and the wood inside is pale brown-grey.

The branches are long and thin with hundreds of twigs that and are covered with handfuls of miniature, slender, pointed, leaves with wavy edges. The leaves themselves are generally red, resilient and smooth.

It produces hundreds of giant, caramel flowers with wide petals. They detach easily and have a powerful scent that smells like glue. In early autumn it forms largegreen berries.