Silverneedle

This small shrub grows up to 1 foot (30.5 cm) tall and lives for around 30 years. It is very resistant to disease but is susceptible to destructive insect infestation.

It has several narrow, curved stems covered in paper-thin, waxy, silver bark, and the wood inside is brown.

The branches are short, rigid and upright with hundreds of twigs that and are covered with copious amounts of miniature, needle-like, leaves with smooth edges. The leaves themselves are beige and light grey, delicate and crispy.

In early spring it produces many tiny, dull red flowers with 4 triangular shaped petals. They detach easily and have a soft scent that smells like sugar.