Copperfern

This big shrub grows up to 9 feet (2.7 meters) tall and lives for around 76 years. It is somewhat resistant to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has several thick, wonky stems covered in delicate, cracked, black with white speckled bark, and the wood inside is mahogany-coloured.

The branches are short, rigid and upright with hundreds of twigs that and are covered with small amounts of small, wispy, leaves with irregular edges. The leaves themselves are copper with peach tips, delicate and crispy.

In late summer it produces clusters of tiny, slate blossoms with 2 triangular shaped petals. They are very delicate and have a scent that varies in strength that smells like cigarette smoke.

In early winter long, tapering fruits ripen. The hairy light grey skin is thin and inedible, and the slightly crunchy olive flesh is extremely savoury and dry. The red seed is tiny and is in the centre of the fruit.