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