<previous next>

Bloodfire Shrub

Shrub type: Deciduous (Stores water in its leaves)

This short shrub grows up to 1 foot (30.5 cm) tall and lives for decades, with the oldest known specimen being around 168 years old. It is very resistant to disease but is susceptible to destructive insect infestation.

It has numerous knobbly, straight stems covered in fine, rough, brown-green bark, and the wood inside is white with black speckles.

The branches trail down to the ground with hundreds of twigs that and are covered with handfuls of large, slender, pointed, leaves with toothed edges. The leaves themselves are cream on the edges and blood red at the center, flimsy and covered in fine hairs.

It produces many bunches of small, beige flowers with slender, pointed petals. They are very delicate and have a scent that varies in strength that smells like grass cuttings. In late autumn it forms medium-sizedslate, winged seeds that spin and fall nearby.

It is suitable for use as a construction material
It out-competes most other plants for nutrients and light.
It grows well in the sun and full shade.