Aquamarine Olive

This short shrub grows up to 1 foot (30.5 cm) tall and lives for around 100 years. It is very susceptible to disease and insect infestation.

It has dozens of knobbly, straight stems covered in thin, waxy, light brown bark, and the wood inside is pale brown.

The branches are short, rigid and upright with thousands of twigs that and are covered with large amounts of miniature, slender, pointed, leaves with serrated edges. The leaves themselves are solid grey with pink edges, durable and clammy.

In late summer it produces dozens of giant, aquamarine blossoms with shield-shaped shaped petals. They are sturdy and have a strong scent that smells like sugar.

In late winter broad, flat fruits ripen. The rough lilac skin is thin and bitter and savoury, and the very soft dark brown flesh is sweet and oily. The olive seeds are large and are dotted around on the skin of the fruit.