Life Span
Annual
  
Perennial
  
Type
Shrub
  
Grass
  
Origin
Southern Africa
  
Southwestern United States, Texas, Mexico
  
Types
Carissa bispinosa, Carissa carandas
  
Not Available
  
Habitat
Coastal Regions, Tropical regions
  
driveways, open Woodlands, Roadsides, Rocky areas, Slopes, tree wells
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-11
  
6-10
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-9
  
11 - 4
  
Sunset Zone
H2, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 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
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
White
  
Not Available
  
Flower Color Modifier
Not Available
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Light Red
  
Non Fruiting Plant
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green
  
Green, Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
  
Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
  
Green, Yellow green, Tan
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
  
Green, Yellow green, Gold, Tan
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Elliptic and Ovate
  
Linear
  
Thorns
Yes
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
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
  
Early Summer, Summer
  
Repeat Bloomer
Yes
  
No
  
Tolerances
Shade areas
  
Drought
  
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
  
Ground
  
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting, Vegetative Reproduction
  
Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Low
  
Medium
  
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
  
Do not water excessively
  
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
  
Requires little pruning
  
Fertilizers
fertilize in growing season, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium
  
Apply 12-6-6 fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Insects, Red blotch, Scale, Spider mites, Thripes, Whiteflies
  
Not Available, Red blotch
  
Plant Tolerance
Shade areas
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
Yes
  
Yes
  
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
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Medium
  
Fine
  
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
Sometimes
  
Self-Sowing
No
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Birds
  
Not Available
  
Allergy
Toxic
  
Not Available
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bonsai, Cottage Garden, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
  
Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes, small hedge
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
No
  
No
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for insects, Prevent Soil Erosion
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
No Medicinal Use
  
No Medicinal Use
  
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Fruits
  
Leaves
  
Other Uses
Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
  
Used as Ornamental plant
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Container, Edging, Edible, Foundation, Groundcover, Hedges, Topiary, Bonsai, Espalier, Tropical
  
Dried Flower / Everlasting, Container, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall
  
Botanical Name
CARISSA macrocarpa
  
NASSELLA tenuissima
  
Common Name
Carissia
  
Finestem Needlegrass, Mexican Feather Grass
  
In Hindi
Carissa
  
Mexican Feather Grass
  
In German
carissa
  
Mexikanische Federgras
  
In French
carissa
  
Mexicaine Herbe Feather
  
In Spanish
carissa
  
Pluma hierba mexicana
  
In Greek
carissa
  
Μεξικού Αστραπή Grass
  
In Portuguese
carissa
  
Mexican Pena Relva
  
In Polish
carissa
  
Mexican Feather trawy
  
In Latin
carissa
  
Mexicanus Pluma Grass
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Liliopsida
  
Order
Gentianales
  
Cyperales
  
Family
Apocynaceae
  
Poaceae
  
Genus
Carissa
  
Nassella
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
  
Tribe
Carisseae
  
Stipeae
  
Subfamily
Rauvolfioideae
  
Not Available