Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Shrub
Tender Perennial
Origin
Southern Africa
Southeastern Asia, India, Melanesia, Micronesia
Types
Carissa Carandas
Variegata Dwarf, Variegata Chinese Beauty
Habitat
Coastal bush land, Sandy areas
Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-11
8-15
Sunset Zone
H2, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Cushion/Mound-forming
Clump-Forming
Flower Color
White
White, Red, Light Pink
Flower Color Modifier
-
Multi-Color
Fruit Color
Hot Pink, Magenta, Purple, Red
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
Dark Green
Leaf Shape
Oval to roundish
Lance shaped
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings
By dividing rhizomes, tubers
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs
Requires plenty of water during the growing season
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, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Cut off the flower stalks at the base of the plant, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
Equal amount of N,P,K
Apply 8-4-6 amount
Pests and Diseases
Aphids
-
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
Yes
Foliage Texture
Medium
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Attracts
Birds
Butterflies
Allergy
Mildly Toxic
Rash
Aesthetic Uses
along a porch, deck or patio, Ground Cover, small hedge
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
Good for skin
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
Iron, Potassium, Vitamin C
Antiulcerogenic, Diuretic, Hypotensive
Part of Plant Used
Fruits
Leaves, Rhizomes
Other Uses
Cake, Jam, Jelly, Sauces
Can be made into a herbal tea, Leaves used for wrapping zongi, Used to flavour noodles, Used to wrap mochi rice cakes
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
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical
Botanical Name
CARISSA macrocarpa 'Emerald Blanket'
ALPINIA zerumbet
Common Name
Large Num-Num
Shell Ginger
In Hindi
नेटाल बेर
Shell Ginger
In German
Natal Plum
Shell Ginger
In French
natal Plum
Shell Ginger
In Spanish
Ciruela Natal
Shell jengibre
In Greek
Natal Plum
Shell Τζίντζερ
In Portuguese
Natal Plum
Shell Ginger
In Polish
Natal Plum
Shell Imbir
In Latin
Natal Plum
Crusta Ginger
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Lilopsida
Order
Gentianales
Zingiberales
Family
Apocynaceae
Zingiberaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Tribe
Carisseae
Alpinieae
Subfamily
Rauvolfioideae
Alpinioideae
Season and Care of Natal Plum and Shell Ginger
Season and care of Natal Plum and Shell Ginger is important to know. While considering everything about Natal Plum and Shell Ginger Care, growing season is an essential factor. Natal Plum season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter and Shell Ginger season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. The type of soil for Natal Plum is Loam, Sand and for Shell Ginger is Loam, Sand while the PH of soil for Natal Plum is Acidic, Neutral and for Shell Ginger is Acidic, Neutral.
Natal Plum and Shell Ginger Physical Information
Natal Plum and Shell Ginger physical information is very important for comparison. Natal Plum height is 60.00 cm and width 60.00 cm whereas Shell Ginger height is 180.00 cm and width 120.00 cm. The color specification of Natal Plum and Shell Ginger are as follows:
Natal Plum flower color: White
Natal Plum leaf color: Dark Green
Shell Ginger flower color: White, Red and Light Pink
- Shell Ginger leaf color: Dark Green
Care of Natal Plum and Shell Ginger
Care of Natal Plum and Shell Ginger include pruning, fertilizers, watering etc. Natal Plum pruning is done Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches and Remove dead leaves and Shell Ginger pruning is done Cut off the flower stalks at the base of the plant, Remove dead leaves and Remove dead or diseased plant parts. In summer Natal Plum needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water. Whereas, in summer Shell Ginger needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water.