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Magentafern

Shrub type: Coniferous (Stores water in its leaves)

This small shrub grows up to 1 foot (30.5 cm) tall and lives for decades, with the oldest known specimen being around 133 years old. It is somewhat resistant to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has many long and flexible, wavy stems covered in delicate, knobbly, silver bark, and the wood inside is burgundy.

The branches are short and slender with thousands of twigs that and are covered with handfuls of tiny, very thick, leaves with jagged edges. The leaves themselves are blue and blue, delicate and smooth.

In early spring it produces a handful of large, magenta blossoms with spear shaped petals with a tube-like floral cup. They are hardy and have the faintest scent that smells like marzipan.

In mid-autumn circular fruits ripen. The fuzzy beige skin is thin and sweet, and the slightly crunchy magenta flesh is sweet and powdery. The olive seeds are large and are located in the centre of the fruit.

It is suitable for creating tough, hard-wearing textiles
It aggressively steals nutrients from other large plants (but not each other).