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 typically small, at 5 to 7 feet tall, but can reach a height of 30 feet. It is a native plant of Kenya, but has been introduced to Florida, Texas, and parts of southeast Asia. Because of its stout, forked 1/2 inch long spines 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. It is tolerant of salt spray. The species name, 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; however, its popularity has caused many gardeners to plant it, with some success, in zones outside 9 or 10.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
No known diseases or pests.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- '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
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Kenya to South Africa
- Distribution:
- Florida, Texas, Mexico, Burma.
- Edibility:
- Fruits have a raspberry-cranberry flavor.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Shrub
- Tree
- 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 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Oval 1/2 inch long fruit, resemble plums, hence the common name. Immature green maturing to red or purple fleshy thin skinned edible. Edible when ripe and many-seeded.
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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 Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Thick 1/2 inch long leaves are smooth, often with dark grey to brown upper surface and pale green to brown lower surface.
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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
- Landscape Theme:
- Edible Garden
- Design Feature:
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Screen/Privacy
- Security
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Salt
- Problems:
- Spines/Thorns
