Copperleaf

This average-sized shrub grows up to 2 feet (61.0 cm) tall and lives for around 26 years. It is not very resistant to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has dozens of wide, angular stems covered in delicate, wrinkled, dark brown bark, and the wood inside is copper-coloured.

The branches are short, thin and wispy with dozens of twigs that and are covered with thick bunches of miniature, finger-like, leaves with smooth edges. The leaves themselves are red and violet, flimsy and waxy.

It produces large amounts of small, muted red flowers with circular petals. They fall easily and have a faint scent that smells like fish. In mid-summer it forms medium-sizedcrimson aril (seeds with fleshy covers).