Silverberry

This average-sized shrub grows up to 3 feet (91.4 cm) tall and lives for around 49 years. It is not very resistant to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has numerous thick, slanted stems covered in thin, ridged, silver and white bark, and the wood inside is black with white speckles.

The branches are very short and thin that and are covered with large amounts of large, spear shaped, leaves with smooth edges. The leaves themselves are light brown and slate, rigid and covered in fine hairs.

In late spring it produces thousands of tiny, faded purple blossoms with 8 crescent-shaped shaped petals. They are hardy and have an intense scent that smells like rotten egg.

In late winter small cuboid fruits ripen. The fuzzy indigo skin is thick and edible when roasted; it is bland, and the very soft crimson flesh is very sour and juicy. The green seeds are tiny and are located in the centre of the fruit.