Coffeeberry

This average-sized shrub grows up to 2 feet (61.0 cm) tall and lives for around 87 years. It is somewhat resistant to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has several very thick, straight stems covered in knobbly, dark brown bark, and the wood inside is mahogany-coloured.

The branches trail down across the ground with thousands of twigs that and are covered with copious amounts of small, stiff, pointed, leaves with tattered edges. The leaves themselves are found in indigo and brown varieties, soft and flexible and clammy.

In early summer it produces lots of large, black blossoms with kidney-shaped shaped petals. They fall easily and have a delicate scent that smells like coffee.

In late winter long, straight fruits ripen. The fuzzy cream skin is stretchy and inedible, and the very soft grey flesh is sweet and juicy. The hazel seed is tiny and is in the centre of the fruit.