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Silverleaf Pepperbush

Shrub type: Deciduous (Stores water in its leaves)

This huge shrub grows up to 13 feet (4.0 meters) tall and lives for decades, with the oldest known specimen being around 155 years old. It is not very resistant to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has several thick, wonky stems covered in hard, wrinkled, silver and white bark, and the wood inside is white.

The branches trail down across the ground with hundreds of twigs that and are covered with large amounts of tiny, thick, leaves with toothed edges. The leaves themselves are either grey, or cream with pink splotches, delicate and rough.

In mid-spring it produces a thick sheet of medium-sized, silver flowers with needle-like petals. They are sturdy and have a scent that varies in strength that smells like pepper.

The pollen is slightly toxic to people but not to certain animals.
It is suitable for making baskets and the like