Life Span
Perennial
Annual
Type
Cactus or Succulent
Shrub
Origin
Southern Africa
Southern Africa
Types
Manihot esculenta, Euphorbia esula
Carissa bispinosa, Carissa carandas
Number of Varieties
-20
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Desert, rocky banks of streams, Sandy stream banks
Coastal Regions, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
-99999-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
12-9
Sunset Zone
21, 22, 23, 24
H2, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Cushion/Mound-forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
90.00 cm90.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
90.00 cm60.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow
White
Flower Color Modifier
-
-
Fruit Color
-
Light Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Gray Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Gray Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Gray Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Gray Green
Dark Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Linear
Elliptic and Ovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Very Slow
Slow
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Shade areas
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Spores, Stem Planting
Seedlings, Stem Planting, Vegetative Reproduction
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Do not water frequently
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
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Prune to control growth, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
fertilize in growing season, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Insects, Red blotch, Scale, Spider mites, Thripes, Whiteflies
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Shade areas
Flowers
Insignificant
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
Bold
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
-
Birds
Allergy
allergic conjunctivitis, Toxic, Vomiting
Toxic
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
Beautification, Bonsai, Cottage Garden, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
No fertilizer, pesticides, or herbicides needed, soil stabilisation
Air purification, Food for insects, Prevent Soil Erosion
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Laxative
-
Part of Plant Used
-
Flowers, Fruits
Other Uses
Used to poison animals during hunting
Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Rock Garden, Wall
Bedding Plant, Container, Edging, Edible, Foundation, Groundcover, Hedges, Topiary, Bonsai, Espalier, Tropical
Botanical Name
EUPHORBIA virosa
CARISSA macrocarpa
Common Name
Gifboom
Carissia
In Hindi
Gifboom
Carissa
In German
Namibische Giftwolfmilch
carissa
In French
Euphorbia virosa
carissa
In Spanish
Euphorbia virosa
carissa
In Greek
Euphorbia virosa
carissa
In Portuguese
Euphorbia virosa
carissa
In Polish
Euphorbia virosa
carissa
In Latin
Euphorbia virosa
carissa
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Angiosperms
Magnoliophyta
Class
-
Magnoliopsida
Order
Malpighiales
Gentianales
Family
Euphorbiaceae
Apocynaceae
Genus
Euphorbia
Carissa
Clade
Eudicots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
-
Carisseae
Subfamily
Euphorbioideae
Rauvolfioideae
Number of Species
-100
1
27800
👆🏻