Twisting Cypress

This modest-sized shrub grows up to 4 feet (1.2 meters) tall and lives for around 20 years. It is somewhat resistant to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has several very thick, twisting stems covered in delicate, cracked, yellow-brown bark, and the wood inside is pale brown-grey.

The branches trail down towards the ground with hundreds of twigs that and are covered with handfuls of giant, finger-like, leaves with jagged edges. The leaves themselves are either light grey or cyan, with violet edges, hardy and sticky.

In early summer it produces thick bunches of tiny, red flowers with umbrella-shaped shaped petals. They are sturdy and have a soft scent that smells like rotting meat.