Speckled Black

This small shrub grows up to 1 foot (30.5 cm) tall and lives for around 19 years. It is susceptible to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has dozens of wide, curved stems covered in delicate, cracked, black with white speckled bark, and the wood inside is black with white speckles.

The branches trail down across the ground with thousands of twigs that and are covered with thick bunches of large, perforated, leaves with smooth edges. The leaves themselves are either peach, or red with azure zig-zags, light and smooth.

In early spring it produces many bunches of large, turquoise blossoms with 8 circular shaped petals. They are very delicate and have a weak scent that smells like fresh linen.

In late autumn tiny perforated fruits ripen. The clammy deep green skin is stretchy and inedible, and the very soft red flesh is spicy and juicy. The white seed is very large and is in the centre of the fruit.