Copperleaf

This short shrub grows up to 1 foot (30.5 cm) tall and lives for around 32 years. It is very resistant to disease but is susceptible to destructive insect infestation.

It has many stocky, curved stems covered in rough, light brown bark, and the wood inside is silver.

The branches trail down across the ground with thousands of twigs that and are covered with thick bunches of huge, broad, flat, leaves with toothed edges. The leaves themselves are solid blood red with copper splotches, flimsy and smooth.

In mid-spring it produces many giant, dark brown blossoms with broad, flat petals with a tube-like floral cup. They are sturdy and have a scent whose strength depends on external factors, such as soil quality and rain frequency that smells like cotton.

In late winter tiny fan-like fruits ripen. The smooth purple skin is stretchy and inedible, and the soft azure flesh is bitter and salty and very juicy. The caramel seed is large and sits at the top of the fruit.