Silverthorn

This small shrub grows up to 1 foot (30.5 cm) tall and lives for around 19 years. It is susceptible to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has numerous knobbly, angular stems covered in waxy, silver and white bark, and the wood inside is gray.

The branches are long, thin and wispy with hundreds of twigs that and are covered with small amounts of miniature, stiff, pointed, leaves with ripped edges. The leaves themselves are light brown at the bottom and gold with peach streaks at the top, light and covered in fine hairs.

In early spring it produces dozens of medium-sized, silver blossoms with sickle shaped petals with a tube-like floral cup. They are very delicate and have a fairly strong scent that smells like damp.

In early winter small long, narrow fruits ripen. The smooth aquamarine skin is thin and inedible, and the crunchy red flesh is slightly salty and sticky. The red seeds are large and are located in the centre of the fruit.