Bronze

This modest-sized shrub grows up to 4 feet (1.2 meters) tall and lives for around 32 years. It is very susceptible to disease and insect infestation.

It has many very thick, angular stems covered in thick, silky, mahogany-coloured bark, and the wood inside is pale brown.

The branches trail down towards the ground that and are covered with small amounts of small, wispy, leaves with jagged edges. The leaves themselves are found in gold and turquoise varieties, flexible and smooth.

In late spring it produces copious amounts of tiny, bronze blossoms with needle-like petals. They are hardy and have a delicate scent that smells like alcohol.

In early autumn asymmetrical fruits ripen. The rubbery caramel skin is tough and inedible, and the slightly crunchy amber flesh is bitter and savoury and juicy. The crimson seed is large and sits at the top of the fruit.