Copperleaf

This large shrub grows up to 5 feet (1.5 meters) tall and lives for around 18 years. It is very resistant to destructive insect infestation but susceptible to disease.

It has several narrow, twisting stems covered in delicate, wrinkled, yellow-brown bark, and the wood inside is burgundy.

The branches are very short and thin that and are covered with copious amounts of miniature, thick, leaves with serrated edges. The leaves themselves are either copper or peach, with hazel lines, frail and waxy.

In early spring it produces many balls of large, brown blossoms with 4 shield-shaped shaped petals. They detach easily and have a weak scent that smells like bonfire smoke.

In late winter needle-like fruits ripen. The fuzzy gold skin is tough and edible when roasted; it is sweet and bitter, and the slightly crunchy magenta flesh is sweet and savoury and powdery. The light green seeds are small and are scattered throughout the fruit.