Copperbrush

This big shrub grows up to 9 feet (2.7 meters) tall and lives for around 91 years. It is very resistant to destructive insect infestation but susceptible to disease.

It has numerous knobbly, twisting stems covered in very thick, silky, pine-coloured bark, and the wood inside is pale brown-grey.

The branches trail down across the ground with dozens of twigs that and are covered with sparse amounts of miniature, spear shaped, leaves with smooth edges. The leaves themselves are either green or copper, with red dots, rigid and covered in fine hairs.

In early summer it produces many balls of giant, dark grey blossoms with 5 spiral shaped petals. They are very delicate and have a delicate scent that smells like rotten eggs.

In early autumn very large perforated fruits ripen. The smooth slate skin is peel-able and inedible, and the crunchy hazel flesh is savoury and powdery. The grey seed is small and sits at the end of the fruit.