Life Span
Annual
Perennial
Type
Shrub
Flowering Plants
Origin
Southern Africa
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, North-Central United States, Central United States
Types
Carissa bispinosa, Carissa carandas
Penstemon
Number of Varieties
2015
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Coastal Regions, Tropical regions
Fields, open Woodlands, Wood Margins
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-113-8
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-9
8-1
Sunset Zone
H2, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Cushion/Mound-forming
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
90.00 cm60.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
60.00 cm30.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White
White, Light Pink
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Light Red
Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green
Dark Red
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Dark Red
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Dark Red
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Elliptic and Ovate
Lance-shaped to oblong
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Slow
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Late Spring, Early Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Shade areas
Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting, Vegetative Reproduction
Root Division, Seedlings, Softwood cuttings
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
Average Water Needs
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
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
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
fertilize in growing season, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium
Complete balanced fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Insects, Red blotch, Scale, Spider mites, Thripes, Whiteflies
Leaf spot, Root rot
Plant Tolerance
Shade areas
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds
Birds, Hummingbirds, Butterflies
Allergy
Toxic
Mild Allergen
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bonsai, Cottage Garden, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Borders, Wild gardens
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for insects, Prevent Soil Erosion
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Tooth ache
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Fruits
Root
Other Uses
Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Showy Purposes
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Container, Edging, Edible, Foundation, Groundcover, Hedges, Topiary, Bonsai, Espalier, Tropical
Cutflower, Mixed Border, Wildflower
Botanical Name
CARISSA macrocarpa
PENSTEMON digitalis 'Husker Red'
Common Name
Carissia
Husker Red Penstemon, Talus Slope Penstemon
In Hindi
Carissa
Talus Slope Penstemon
In German
carissa
Gehängeschutt Penstemon
In French
carissa
Talus Slope Penstemon
In Spanish
carissa
Astrágalo pendiente Penstemon
In Greek
carissa
Αστράγαλος Κλίση Penstemon
In Portuguese
carissa
Talus Penstemon Slope
In Polish
carissa
Talus Slope Penstemon
In Latin
carissa
Talus Clivo Persicaria
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Gentianales
Scrophulariales
Family
Apocynaceae
Scrophulariaceae
Genus
Carissa
Penstemon
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
Carisseae
-
Subfamily
Rauvolfioideae
-
Number of Species
100280
1
27800
👆🏻