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Clinging Willow

Shrub type: Deciduous (Grows upwards by clinging to almost any surface.)

This small shrub grows up to 1 foot (30.5 cm) tall and lives for around 55 years. It is very resistant to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has several branched, straight stems covered in rough, brown-green speckled bark, and the wood inside is pine-coloured.

The branches are short and thin with dozens of twigs that and are covered with thick bunches of huge, stiff, pointed, leaves with ripped edges. The leaves themselves are yellow on the sides and dull purple at the center, flimsy and soft.

In mid-summer it produces a thick sheet of large, red blossoms with wide petals. They are sturdy and have an intense scent that smells like something putrid.

In late autumn tiny fan-like fruits ripen. The smooth light grey skin is delicate and inedible, and the slightly crunchy yellow flesh is sweet and bitter and oily. The yellow seed is very large and sits at the top of the fruit.

Offering it in a bouquet is supposed to bring good luck.
It can survive a very long time without water.
It is suitable for making baskets and the like