Turquoiseberry

This modest-sized shrub grows up to 4 feet (1.2 meters) tall and lives for around 24 years. It is very resistant to disease but is susceptible to destructive insect infestation.

It has many flexible, twisting stems covered in rough, white with black speckled bark, and the wood inside is copper-coloured.

The branches are long and thin with thousands of twigs that and are covered with small amounts of tiny, long, tapering, leaves with toothed edges. The leaves themselves are generally turquoise, sturdy and crispy.

In late summer it produces many balls of small, white blossoms with many layers of petals. They fall easily and have a powerful scent that smells like bleach.

In late autumn needle-like fruits ripen. The clammy peach skin is delicate and inedible, and the slightly crunchy grey flesh is bitter and salty and very juicy. The dull green seed is small and is in the centre of the fruit.