Burgundy Cracklebush

This short shrub grows up to 1 foot (30.5 cm) tall and lives for decades, with the oldest known specimen being around 183 years old. It is very resistant to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has many thick, straight stems covered in delicate, cracked, burgundy and brown bark, and the wood inside is black.

The branches are short stubs that and are covered with copious amounts of huge, thick, leaves with tattered edges. The leaves themselves are dark grey at the bottom and florescent yellow with cream patches at the top, rigid and clammy.

It produces many balls of small, black flowers with stiff, pointed petals. They fall easily and have the faintest scent that smells like warm cookies. In midwinter it forms medium-sizedamber berries.