Carissa macrocarpa
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Carissa grandiflora
- Phonetic Spelling
- ka-RIS-uh ma-kro-KAR-pa
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Natal plum is an easy-to-grow, spiny, evergreen, perennial shrub with dense, leathery, green leaves, fragrant, white flowers and showy, edible, red fruits. It is a member of the dogbane family (Apocynaceae) native to tropical East Africa. It has naturalized in Florida, Texas, and parts of Asia. The species epithet, macrocarpa, means large fruit.
Natal plum will do well in full sun or light shade and organic soil in a warm, moist, tropical environment. It is easy to grow and can be sheared or hedged to fit the environment. It is a tropical plant and does well in USDA zones 9 and 10. It is tolerant of salt spray.
It is typically small, at 5 to 7 feet tall, but can reach a height of 30 feet. Because of its spine-tipped leave and its stout, one- or -two-pronged, spines up to 1 inch long, it can be used as a hedge, security screen or foundation planting where it is hardy. It can also be grown in a container that is brought indoors in the winter.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No known diseases or pests.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Boxwood Beauty'
Compact - 'Fancy'
Upright, large fruits - 'Green Carpet'
Low growing - 'Prostrada'
Low Growing - 'Tomlinson'
Dwarf, thorns are more hidden in foliage, wine red fruits - 'Variegata'
Variegated foliage with cream or yellow
- 'Boxwood Beauty'
- 'Boxwood Beauty', 'Fancy', 'Green Carpet', 'Prostrada', 'Tomlinson', 'Variegata'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Boxwood Beauty'
Compact - 'Fancy'
Upright, large fruits - 'Green Carpet'
Low growing - 'Prostrada'
Low Growing - 'Tomlinson'
Dwarf, thorns are more hidden in foliage, wine red fruits - 'Variegata'
Variegated foliage with cream or yellow
- 'Boxwood Beauty'
- 'Boxwood Beauty', 'Fancy', 'Green Carpet', 'Prostrada', 'Tomlinson', 'Variegata'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Carissa
- Species:
- macrocarpa
- Family:
- Apocynaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Layering
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Kenya to South Africa
- Distribution:
- Cultivated in warm areas around the world.
- Edibility:
- Fruits have a raspberry-cranberry flavor.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Ascending
- Dense
- Multi-stemmed
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Appendage:
- Spines
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-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Showy
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- Ovoid, 1-inch-long fruits, resemble plums, hence the common name. Immature fruits are green. They ripen to red or purple; fleshy, thin-skinned, and many-seeded. Edible when ripe.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Description:
- Five petaled solitary star-shaped white flowers with a jasmine-like scent bloom throughout the year.
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-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Thick 1-2-inch-long leaves are smooth and glossy dark green. The leaf tip is pointed and sharp.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Young stems are smooth, greenish, strongly wrinkled into longitudinal ridges and channels; older twigs are similar with greenish or brownish color and often glossy surface.
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Pool/Hardscape
- Landscape Theme:
- Edible Garden
- Design Feature:
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Screen/Privacy
- Security
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Salt
- Problems:
- Spines/Thorns
-
-
Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- Sap contains latex. Ingesting large quantities may cause minor illnesses such as vomiting or diarrhea. The ripe fruits, however, are edible.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Unidentified, possibly a glycoside
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Sap/Juice
