Copperleaf

This small shrub grows up to 1 foot (30.5 cm) tall and lives for around 32 years. It is very resistant to disease but is susceptible to destructive insect infestation.

It has several narrow, straight stems covered in thin, ridged, copper-coloured bark, and the wood inside is dark brown.

The branches are short and thin with hundreds of twigs that and are covered with large amounts of large, pleated, leaves with wavy edges. The leaves themselves are found in hazel, lime and olive varieties, sturdy and leathery.

It produces a handful of small, green flowers with perforated petals with a tube-like floral cup. They fall easily and have a mildly strong scent that smells like faeces. In late winter it forms largeslate seed pods.