Natal plum grow and care – shrub of the genus Carissa also known as Carissa macrocarpa, Natal plum perennial evergreen plant, and grow for the edible fruits but mostly used as ornamental plant, and can grow as hedge plant or ground cover, can grow in tropic, mediterranean, desert, subtropical climate or as houseplant and growing in hardiness growing zone 10+ and with the right care in hardiness zone 9b
Leaves color is dark green, the shape is circular to ovate shape, grow in pinnate structure
Flower color white with five petals grow in cluster 2-5+ flowers and flowers are fragrant,
What is the best way to start growing? Plant / Seed / Vegetative Reproduction care propagation
Is it necessary to graft or use vegetative reproduction? No, but in propagation can ensure: size of the plant, dwarf or tall, the quality of the fruits, density of the growth, grow as creeper or hedge plant, with or without thorns.
Difficulties or problems when growing: Thorns, most of the cultivars have thorns
Planting season: Spring in hardiness zone 9b, spring to summer in growing hardiness zone 10a, spring to autumn in hardiness zone 10b and all year in hardiness zone 11+
Pests and diseases: Aphids
Pruning season: All year
How to prune: More for design, and for easy pickup, or design as tree or bonsai
Size of the plant: 0.5-5 m, 1.8-15 feet and dwarf cultivars 20-50cm (8-20 inches)
Growth speed in optimal condition: Medium growing / slow growing
Water requirement: Small amount of water / Average amount of water prefer more water but can be also drought tolerant
Light conditions in optimal condition for growing: Full Sun / Half Shade / Full shade problem of blooming and bear fruits
Is it possible to grow indoor as houseplant? Yes, but might won’t bear fruits, in order to bear fruits need to expose to some sun
Growing is also possible in a planter /flowerpot / containers: Yes, start with the desirable size of container or even better pot that bigger 20-30% from the root ball that change when the root ball grow until arrive to the desirable size of container, use potting soil, care instruction: mostly to prune and design once a year
Blooming information
Bloom season: Mostly spring to summer, but can be all year
General information about the flower White flower with five petals grow in cluster
Pollination is done by: Bees
Edible Fruits
Fruit harvest season: Mostly summer to autumn, but can be all year growing zone
Fruits pests or diseases: Birds
What can be done with big quantities of Natal plum fruits? Eat raw, pickles, jams
