Life Span
Perennial
Annual and Perennial
Origin
Southern Africa
Southeastern Asia, India
Types
Carissa Carandas
Not Available
Habitat
Coastal bush land, Sandy areas
gardens, Homesteads, Urban areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-11
10-15
Sunset Zone
H2, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 24
Habit
Cushion/Mound-forming
Upright/Erect
Flower Color
White
Orange, Light Yellow, Peach, Orange Red
Flower Color Modifier
Not Available
Not Available
Fruit Color
Hot Pink, Magenta, Purple, Red
Non Fruiting Plant
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Shape
Oval to roundish
Ovate
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Indeterminate
Tolerances
Drought
Not Available
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs
Form a Soil ring to water efficiently, Keep ground moist, Requires watering in the growing season, Water more in summer
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
No pruning needed in the early stages, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves, Remove deadheads
Fertilizers
Equal amount of N,P,K
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Aphids
Insects
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Attracts
Birds
Hummingbirds, Butterflies
Allergy
Mildly Toxic
no allergic reactions
Aesthetic Uses
along a porch, deck or patio, Ground Cover, small hedge
Beautification, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
Not Available
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
Iron, Potassium, Vitamin C
Cold, Cough, Wounds
Part of Plant Used
Fruits
Flowers
Other Uses
Cake, Jam, Jelly, Sauces
Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Container, Edging, Edible, Foundation, Groundcover, Hedges, Topiary, Bonsai, Espalier, Tropical
Bedding Plant, Container, Feature Plant, Hedges, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
CARISSA macrocarpa 'Emerald Blanket'
CROSSANDRA infundibuliformis
Common Name
Large Num-Num
Firecracker Flower
In German
Natal Plum
Kracher-Blume
In French
natal Plum
Firecracker fleur
In Spanish
Ciruela Natal
flor petardo
In Greek
Natal Plum
πυροτέχνημα λουλούδι
In Portuguese
Natal Plum
flor foguete
In Polish
Natal Plum
petarda kwiat
In Latin
Natal Plum
flos Firecracker
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Not Available
Class
Magnoliopsida
Not Available
Order
Gentianales
Lamiales
Family
Apocynaceae
Acanthaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
Carisseae
Not Available
Subfamily
Rauvolfioideae
Brodiaeoideae
Number of Species
Not Available
Properties of Natal Plum and Firecracker Flower
Wondering what are the properties of Natal Plum and Firecracker Flower? We provide you with everything About Natal Plum and Firecracker Flower. Natal Plum has thorns and Firecracker Flower doesn't have thorns. Also Natal Plum does not have fragrant flowers. Natal Plum has allergic reactions like Mildly Toxic and Firecracker Flower has allergic reactions like Mildly Toxic. Compare all the properties and characteristics of these two plants. Find out which of these plant can be used as indoor plant. If you are interested to decorate your house and garden, find out aesthetic uses, compare them and select the plant which will beautify your surrounding. Along with beautification, try comparing medicinal and edible uses of Natal Plum and Firecracker Flower and you can choose the plant having best and most benefits.
Season and Care of Natal Plum and Firecracker Flower
Season and care of Natal Plum and Firecracker Flower is important to know. While considering everything about Natal Plum and Firecracker Flower Care, growing season is an essential factor. Natal Plum season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter and Firecracker Flower season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. The type of soil for Natal Plum is Loam, Sand and for Firecracker Flower is Loam while the PH of soil for Natal Plum is Acidic, Neutral and for Firecracker Flower is Acidic, Neutral.
Natal Plum and Firecracker Flower Physical Information
Natal Plum and Firecracker Flower physical information is very important for comparison. Natal Plum height is 60.00 cm and width 60.00 cm whereas Firecracker Flower height is 40.60 cm and width 25.40 cm. The color specification of Natal Plum and Firecracker Flower are as follows:
Natal Plum flower color: White
Natal Plum leaf color: Dark Green
Firecracker Flower flower color: Orange, Light Yellow, Peach and Orange Red
- Firecracker Flower leaf color: Green and Dark Green
Care of Natal Plum and Firecracker Flower
Care of Natal Plum and Firecracker Flower include pruning, fertilizers, watering etc. Natal Plum pruning is done Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches and Remove dead leaves and Firecracker Flower pruning is done No pruning needed in the early stages, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves and Remove deadheads. In summer Natal Plum needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water. Whereas, in summer Firecracker Flower needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water.