PlantFiles: Natal Plum
Carissa macrocarpa

Beautiful, dark green shiny leaves and jasmine-like starred flowers that spread a sweet jasmine-like scent, it is used here in Miami for landscaping. One can keep it potted (like me) with the same success. It can provide a natural thief-repelling fence, due to its strong thorns and the natural bushiness. It can be easily rooted from cuttings, and it's not fussy about the soil either. It successfully survives the humidity of the South Florida climate, and it doesn't mind the rain, as long as the soil has drainage.
So if "you want a jasmine" but you have a brown thumb, here's your choice!

My Natal plum seems to enjoy the heavy rains we have been experiencing here in Houston, despite the fact it is supposed to prefer a drier climate; in fact, it blooms more when its feet are wet.

I've known the natal plum for about 25 years, since I moved to Corpus Christi. It's used extensively here in public places and in private yards. I have never seen it get invasive. I bought two for the backyard where I moved to in December (07). The yard is mostly shade, so I have chosen trees and shrubs that are shade tolerant and can be used for wildlife shelter or food. I hope the natal plums will produce in light shade, but if it doesn't it will make a good shelter for the birds that make their nests in impenetrable (to dogs,etc.) shrubs. I'm trying to attract mocking birds--I love them. I'm using native plants and a few naturalized ones--it's a large yard and I want a Texas wildscape! Any suggestions are welcome.

I've always loved Natal Plum... I recently got a Natal Plum called "Fancy" It has grown very well over the past few months, it is very fast! It will get tall to, about 5 feet! I fertilize it about every other week... And it does respond well to that! It blooms so beautifully and just pops out fruit like crazy!!! I needed something in my back yard, where there is an open area going from my backyard to the street... Now ive been looking for something to keep trespassers out of my yard... I am constantly telling people to get out.. I thought of everything, but I needed something that would discourage them, and make them think twice.. Well the Natal Plum does that... soon it will be big enough to fill the void, between my garden and the street, and then no one will want to try to trespass, its because of the sharp thorns.. You really cant see them, but if you walk near, or into the bush, you sure will feel them!!! Hahahaha, I cant wait for someone to try it and finally get the hint to "STAY OUT" My newly planted Natal Plum will be a sure reminder to anyone who wants to try and come in my yard, not to!!! I love you Natal Plum..

A house next to our house has lots of it in the front and some around the side and/or in the back. At first, I didn't know what type of plant it was. I noticed that it had very sweet-smelling, perfume-like white flowers that smelled very much like jasmine (That's what I thought the plant was at first). It also has sharp thorns or tips on the leaves - OUCH! It was very interesting-looking and it grew as a large, thicket-forming spiny bush or large shrub. Before I found out that it was actually a plant clled the Natal Plum here and on the ISB Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants, I saw that it was displaying a small, apple-like fruit that I didn't know was edible so I didn't taste it. Now it is displaying some of those fruits again. It is somewhat invasive here in my south Florida area in zone 10 as well as all across parts of south Florida. It is a very attractive-looking shrub with very nice dark green leaves and very beautiful white, jasmine-like flowers that look and smell like jasmine flowers. The fruit provides a striking contrast as well. Despite that this plant may become invasive and the fact that is on the Exotic Pest Plant Council's List Category Two, and that it is *OUCH!!!* sharp, I still like this plant! However, I still am cautious because it can become invasive.

Natal plum prefers a sandy, well-drained soil. It responds well to close pruning and is easily kept at any size. Many of the cultivars have a tendency to produce branches that revert to the species characteristics, so it may be necessary to prune frequently to prevent the cultivar from reverting completely.

Natal plum does best and produces the most flowers (very fragrant, by the way) when positioned in full sun, but it tolerates partial shade.

Carissa is indigenous to South Africa & specifically KwaZulu-Natal, where its common name is Amatumgulu (Zulu). KwaZulu is a subtropical region and Carissa is incredibly hardy so it should grow like a bomb anywhere with a similar climate.

My mother had one, grown as a small tree (she kept it for the birds, they liked it) and one of her neighbors had a low hedge (definitely impenetrable!) White star-like flowers show nicely against dark green folliage. Yes, the fruit is edible. If I could have everything I like in my yard I'd have this.

Have never heard before that plant is poisonous and Sunset Western Garden book does not mention it. I have been eating the fruit for 70 years. It is delicious when dark red and fully ripe. There are thornless varieties available. Likes full sun and does not tolerate much frost. WTH - San Diego

The thorns are very long (3/4" - 1", 1.5cm. - 2 cm.) and strong! I trimmed a natal plum bush and didn't sweep up my driveway well enough - subsequently drove over a two-pronged set of thorns; found a thorn lodged in a tire on my car....it punctured the sidewall and I had to get a new tire!!! These bushes are evil! Great for an impenetrable hedge, I suppose.

Spiny plant- great hedge plant, especially for areas you don't want someone to go through. Easily groomed into about any shape you want. Very commonly used as such in Southern California- see it all over the malls and public landscaping areas. Flowers produce a wonderful jasmine-like scent that was one of the first plant smells I actually liked, long before I ever thought I'd be interested in plants.