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Silverberry

Shrub type: Deciduous (Stores water in its leaves)

This average-sized shrub grows up to 2 feet (61.0 cm) tall and lives for decades, with the oldest known specimen being around 142 years old. It is somewhat resistant to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has many slender, slanted stems covered in very thick, rough, black with white speckled bark, and the wood inside is black.

The branches are short, rigid and upright with dozens of twigs that and are covered with large amounts of tiny, flame-shaped, leaves with smooth edges. The leaves themselves are solid silver or black, with cyan zig-zags, robust and sticky.

In late summer it produces many large, yellow blossoms with sickle shaped petals with a bell-shaped floral cup. They are very delicate and have a weak scent that smells like cinnamon.

In early winter small oblong fruits ripen. The rubbery blood red skin is stretchy and sweet, and the slightly crunchy grey flesh is sour and very dry. The red seed is tiny and is in the centre of the fruit.

The grains are bitter, but very healthy and extremely bitter.
It is suitable for making baskets and the like