Life Span
Annual
  
Perennial
  
Type
Shrub
  
Grass
  
Origin
Southern Africa
  
Southwestern United States
  
Types
Carissa bispinosa, Carissa carandas
  
Not Available
  
Habitat
Coastal Regions, Tropical regions
  
Sandy areas
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-11
  
7-11
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-9
  
12 - 1
  
Sunset Zone
H2, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Cushion/Mound-forming
  
Clump-Forming
  
Plant Size
  
  
Minimum Height
Not Available
  
Minimum Width
Not Available
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
White
  
Non Flowering Plant
  
Flower Color Modifier
Not Available
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Light Red
  
Non Fruiting Plant
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
  
Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
  
Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Elliptic and Ovate
  
Long linear and narrow
  
Thorns
Yes
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Summer, Fall
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Growth Rate
Slow
  
Medium
  
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
  
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
  
Repeat Bloomer
Yes
  
No
  
Tolerances
Shade areas
  
Drought
  
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
  
Container, Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting, Vegetative Reproduction
  
Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Low
  
Low
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Never Over-water, Requires regular watering, Water daily during growing season, Water when top layer of soil becomes dry
  
Requires watering in the growing season, Water occasionally
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Pruning
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Prune to control growth, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
  
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Fertilizers
fertilize in growing season, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium
  
fertilize in spring
  
Pests and Diseases
Insects, Red blotch, Scale, Spider mites, Thripes, Whiteflies
  
Red blotch
  
Plant Tolerance
Shade areas
  
Drought, Heat Tolerance
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
Yes
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
No
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Medium
  
Fine
  
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
No
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Birds
  
Birds, Deers, Insects
  
Allergy
Toxic
  
no allergic reactions
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bonsai, Cottage Garden, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
  
Beautification, Ground Cover, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
No
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for insects, Prevent Soil Erosion
  
Food for animals, Nesting sites for birds, Shelter for wildlife
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
No Medicinal Use
  
Sore throat
  
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Fruits
  
Leaves, Root
  
Other Uses
Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
  
Can be made into a herbal tea, Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes, 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
  
Feature Plant, Foundation, Groundcover, Mixed Border, Wildflower
  
Botanical Name
CARISSA macrocarpa
  
MUHLENBERGIA rigens
  
Common Name
Carissia
  
Deer Grass
  
In Hindi
Carissa
  
हिरण घास
  
In German
carissa
  
Deer Grass
  
In French
carissa
  
cerfs Herbe
  
In Spanish
carissa
  
Ciervo Hierba
  
In Greek
carissa
  
ελάφια Grass
  
In Portuguese
carissa
  
cervos grama
  
In Polish
carissa
  
Deer Trawa
  
In Latin
carissa
  
deer Grass
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Anthophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Liliopsida
  
Order
Gentianales
  
Poales
  
Family
Apocynaceae
  
Poaceae
  
Genus
Carissa
  
Muhlenbergia
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
  
Tribe
Carisseae
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Rauvolfioideae
  
Chloridoideae
  
Number of Species
Not Available