Silverwood

This large shrub grows up to 5 feet (1.5 meters) tall and lives for around 34 years. It is susceptible to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has many slender, twisting stems covered in knobbly, dark brown bark, and the wood inside is silver.

The branches are short, rigid and upright with dozens of twigs that and are covered with large amounts of tiny, asymmetrical, leaves with serrated edges. The leaves themselves are generally bright green, delicate and leathery.

In late summer it produces hundreds of medium-sized, black flowers with flame-shaped shaped petals. They are hardy and have a strong scent that smells like cheap aftershave.