Ambervine

This small shrub grows up to 1 foot (30.5 cm) tall and lives for around 44 years. It is very resistant to disease but is susceptible to destructive insect infestation.

It has numerous slender, curved stems covered in very thick, knobbly, yellow-brown bark, and the wood inside is brown.

The branches are long, thin and wispy with hundreds of twigs that and are covered with large amounts of large, sickle shaped, leaves with irregular edges. The leaves themselves are grey and amber, resilient and waxy.

In late summer it produces handfuls of medium-sized, aquamarine blossoms with fan-like petals with a trumpet-shaped floral cup. They are very delicate and have a weak scent that smells like mint.

In late autumn small stiff, pointed fruits ripen. The waxy turquoise skin is delicate and edible when cooked; it is sweet, and the slightly crunchy hazel flesh is sour and dry. The muted green seed is tiny and is in the centre of the fruit.