Copperbell

This short shrub grows up to 1 foot (30.5 cm) tall and lives for decades, with the oldest known specimen being around 151 years old. It is very susceptible to disease and insect infestation.

It has many narrow, crooked stems covered in delicate, silky, copper-coloured bark, and the wood inside is yellow.

The branches are very long and thin with thousands of twigs that and are covered with large amounts of small, asymmetrical, leaves with rounded edges. The leaves themselves are either grey or blue, with lime streaks, robust and clammy.

In early spring it produces thick bunches of giant, yellow blossoms with circular petals with a tube-like floral cup. They are hardy and have an overpowering scent that smells like honeysuckle.

In late winter needle-like fruits ripen. The clammy gold skin is thick and edible when roasted; it is sweet, and the slightly crunchy lilac flesh is spicy and dry. The gold seed is small and sits at the top of the fruit.