Bluebell

This big shrub grows up to 8 feet (2.4 meters) tall and lives for around 51 years. It is somewhat resistant to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has several branched, straight stems covered in very thick, cracked, yellow-brown bark, and the wood inside is black with white speckles.

The branches are very short and thick with dozens of twigs that and are covered with very large amounts of small, very thin, leaves with smooth edges. The leaves themselves are blue and deep blue, rigid and waxy.

In early spring it produces copious amounts of tiny, bronze blossoms with asymmetrical petals with a bell-shaped floral cup. They detach easily and have a mildly strong scent that smells like rotten meat.

In midwinter long, curved fruits ripen. The rough purple skin is tough and sweet, and the crunchy pale purple flesh is bitter and savoury and oily. The grey seed is tiny and sits at the top of the fruit.