Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Shrub
Origin
Mexico, Central America
Southern Africa
Types
Criollo, Forastero, Trinitario
Carissa Carandas
Number of Varieties
34
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Lowland, Tropical rainforest, Tropical regions
Coastal bush land, Sandy areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
11-159-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
12-9
Sunset Zone
H1, H2
H2, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Cushion/Mound-forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
610.00 cm60.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
370.00 cm60.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White
White
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Gold, Burgundy, Dark Red
Hot Pink, Magenta, Purple, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Light Green, Dark Green, Pink, Copper
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green, Dark Green, Copper
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Light Green, Dark Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
Dark Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Broad, Unlobed
Oval to roundish
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Slow
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Keep ground moist, Requires watering in 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
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Prune to stimulate growth, Prune twice a year, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Ammonia sulphate, Nitrogen
Equal amount of N,P,K
Pests and Diseases
Borers, Insects, Phytophthora, Red blotch
Aphids
Plant Tolerance
Shade areas, Wet Site
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
Coarse
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
-
Birds
Allergy
Diabetes, Diarrhea
Mildly Toxic
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
along a porch, deck or patio, Ground Cover, small hedge
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Anti-oxidant, Antioxidants, Asthma, Cancer, Cardiovascular problems, constipation, High cholestrol, Wounds
Iron, Potassium, Vitamin C
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Seeds
Fruits
Other Uses
Employed in herbal medicine, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in making beverages
Cake, Jam, Jelly, Sauces
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Edible, Feature Plant, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Shade Trees, Tropical
Bedding Plant, Container, Edging, Edible, Foundation, Groundcover, Hedges, Topiary, Bonsai, Espalier, Tropical
Botanical Name
THEOBROMA cacao
CARISSA macrocarpa 'Emerald Blanket'
Common Name
Cacao, Chocolate, Cocoa
Large Num-Num
In Hindi
कोको संयंत्र
नेटाल बेर
In German
Kakaopflanze
Natal Plum
In French
usine de cacao
natal Plum
In Spanish
planta del cacao
Ciruela Natal
In Greek
φυτό του κακάο
Natal Plum
In Portuguese
planta do cacau
Natal Plum
In Polish
Kakao roślin
Natal Plum
In Latin
Cocos herba
Natal Plum
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Malvales
Gentianales
Family
Sterculiaceae
Apocynaceae
Genus
Theobroma
Carissa
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
Theobromeae
Carisseae
Subfamily
Byttneroideae
Rauvolfioideae
Number of Species
2220
1
27800
👆🏻