Blackbark

This small shrub grows up to 1 foot (30.5 cm) tall and lives for around 29 years. It is very susceptible to disease and insect infestation.

It has many branched, curved stems covered in hard, rough, black with white speckled bark, and the wood inside is pine-coloured.

The branches are tall, rigid and upright with hundreds of twigs that and are covered with handfuls of giant, needle-like, leaves with jagged edges. The leaves themselves are found in white, lime and blue varieties, flexible and covered in fine hairs.

In mid-spring it produces large amounts of small, amber blossoms with stiff, pointed petals with a tube-like floral cup. They fall easily and have a mildly strong scent that smells like fruity.

In early winter perforated fruits ripen. The soft magenta skin is peel-able and inedible, and the crunchy gold flesh is salty and very juicy. The light brown seed is large and is in the centre of the fruit.