Muehlenbeckia astonii

One of the most unusual shrubs you'll ever see! This unique tiny-leaved plant (perhaps to avoid the Moa bird?) from New Zealand forms a thick, dense mound to 3 feet tall and wide. Its black stems appear to be made of wire and they are adorned with miniature, bright-green, round leaves. This fantastic shrub is grown for its interesting architectural interest. S/M

This is one of the most unusual of the wire vines -- and it's not even really a vine! Another archetypically New Zealand plant with its wonderful divaricating, beak-proof adaptation. M. astonii forms a 3', very dense mound of black, wiry stems adorned with tiny round leaves and minute flowers pollinated by who-knows what, but something really, really small. Has the same architecture as the genus Corokia but tighter and smaller. Prefers moist, well-drained soil and bright light for best form. Frost hardy in USDA zone 8.