Tropicals, Woody > Carissa > Carissa macrocarpa > Carissa macrocarpa
Carissa macrocarpa
Natal Plum
Origin: Native to South Africa.
| Family |
| Apocynaceae |
| Genus |
| Carissa |
| Species |
| macrocarpa |
| Category |
| Tropicals, Woody |
| Type |
| Shrub (evergreen) |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 9b - 11 |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| Cool season protection required under glass. |
| RHS Hardiness Zone |
| H3 - H1c |
| Temperature (°C) |
| -3 - 5 |
| Temperature (°F) |
| 25 - 40 |
| Height |
| 1.8 - 2.4 m |
| Spread |
| 60 - 90 cm |
Photographs
Cultivars
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Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| Landscape |
| Container planting. |
| Cultivation |
| Full sun and partial-shade. Well-drained and moist soils with a pH of 6.1 - 7.8 (mildly acidic, neutral and mildly alkaline). Drought tolerant. |
| Shape |
| Spreading. |
| Habitat |
| Coastal bush. |
| Leaf Description |
| The leaves are small, oblong and come to a slightly curved point. |
| Flower Description |
| The flowers are 5-petaled that are long and thin and appears in somewhat of a star-shape with a perfume scent that intensifies at night, |
| Fruit Description |
| Ornamental plump, round fruit appears in summer and autumn at the same time as the blooms. |
| Colour Description |
| The leaves are deep green. The flowers are snowy white. The fruit is a crimson red. |
| Texture Description |
| The leaves have a shiny texture. |
| Propagation |
| Seed, stem cuttings, softwood cuttings and semi-hardwood cuttings. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses (Disclaimer) |
| The fruit is edible and can be eaten straight off the shrub or made into pies, jams, jellies and sauces. There are claims that the fruit is poisonous but it appears to be a myth. |
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