Knobbly Willow

This small shrub grows up to 1 foot (30.5 cm) tall and lives for around 84 years. It is very resistant to disease but is susceptible to destructive insect infestation.

It has numerous sturdy, wonky stems covered in knobbly, black bark, and the wood inside is brown.

The branches trail down to the ground that and are covered with small bunches of large, slender, pointed, leaves with smooth edges. The leaves themselves are grey and turquoise, light and clammy.

In mid-summer it produces many balls of medium-sized, subtle yellow blossoms with long, narrow petals. They are hardy and have an overpowering scent that smells like rotten meat.

In late autumn finger-like fruits ripen. The clammy green skin is tough and savoury, and the slightly crunchy gentle purple flesh is very sweet and oily. The white seed is very large and is in the centre of the fruit.