Coppervine

This average-sized shrub grows up to 4 feet (1.2 meters) tall and lives for decades, with the oldest known specimen being around 161 years old. It is very resistant to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has several stocky, wonky stems covered in very thick, cracked, copper-coloured bark, and the wood inside is black.

The branches are very long and thin with thousands of twigs that and are covered with small bunches of miniature, long, tapering, leaves with wavy edges. The leaves themselves are grey with silver tips, flimsy and crispy.

In early spring it produces a thick sheet of small, copper blossoms with 4 flame-shaped shaped petals. They are very delicate and have an overpowering scent that smells like onion.

In midwinter sickle-shaped fruits ripen. The clammy blood red skin is peel-able and inedible, and the very soft slate flesh is sweet and dry. The white seed is tiny and sits at the top of the fruit.