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Copperleaf

Shrub type: Deciduous (Stores water in its leaves)

This big shrub grows up to 9 feet (2.7 meters) tall and lives for decades, with the oldest known specimen being around 137 years old. It is very resistant to disease but is susceptible to destructive insect infestation.

It has dozens of stocky, straight stems covered in hard, cracked, copper-coloured bark, and the wood inside is pale yellow.

The branches are short, thin and wispy with hundreds of twigs that and are covered with small amounts of small, thin, leaves with toothed edges. The leaves themselves are generally lime, rigid and smooth.

In late summer it produces copious amounts of small, magenta blossoms with 2 pointed petals. They fall easily and have a strong scent that smells like a newborn baby.

In early autumn circular fruits ripen. The leathery brown skin is stretchy and inedible, and the very soft black flesh is salty and sticky. The caramel seed is tiny and sits at the top of the fruit.

It is suitable for use as a construction material
It is difficult to kill and will quickly regrow if it falls or if its limbs are knocked off.