Bristleleaf Vineberry

This short shrub grows up to 1 foot (30.5 cm) tall and lives for decades, with the oldest known specimen being around 169 years old. It is very resistant to destructive insect infestation but susceptible to disease.

It has numerous long and flexible, wavy stems covered in thin, rough, dark brown bark, and the wood inside is black with white speckles.

The branches trail down to the ground with thousands of twigs that and are covered with thick bunches of miniature, fan-like, leaves with tattered edges. The leaves themselves are a shade of emerald that gradient shifts to white at the top, delicate and covered in fine hairs.

In late summer it produces thick bunches of medium-sized, crimson blossoms with pleated petals with a bell-shaped floral cup. They fall easily and have a strong scent that smells like vanilla.

In early autumn long, narrow fruits ripen. The soft magenta skin is stretchy and inedible, and the crunchy turquoise flesh is sour and very juicy. The gold seed is tiny and is in the centre of the fruit.