Life Span
Perennial
Annual
Type
Cactus
Shrub
Origin
South America
Southern Africa
Types
Gymnocalycium alboareolatum , Gymnocalycium amerhauseri , Gymnocalycium andreae
Carissa bispinosa, Carissa carandas
Number of Varieties
5420
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Desert, Semi desert
Coastal Regions, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-129-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
12-9
Sunset Zone
13,21,22,23,24
H2, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Cushion/Mound-forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
12.50 cm90.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
8.00 cm60.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
creamy white, Light Pink, Pink
White
Flower Color Modifier
-
-
Fruit Color
Pink
Light Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Dark Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
-
Elliptic and Ovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
All year
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Part sun, Partial shade, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Slow
Type of Soil
Sand, Sandy
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Sandy
Well drained
Bloom Time
All year
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Dry Conditions, Dry soil, Full Sun, Heat Tolerance
Shade areas
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Offsets
Seedlings, Stem Planting, Vegetative Reproduction
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Do not water excessively
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
Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Sandy
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Dry
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Part 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
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, can go long without fertilizers
fertilize in growing season, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium
Pests and Diseases
Mealy bugs, Root rot
Insects, Red blotch, Scale, Spider mites, Thripes, Whiteflies
Plant Tolerance
Dry soil, Full Sun, Heat Tolerance
Shade areas
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
Bold
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Ants, Mealybugs
Birds
Allergy
-
Toxic
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Cottage Garden, Ornamental use
Beautification, Bonsai, Cottage Garden, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for animals, Food for birds, Food for insects
Air purification, Food for insects, Prevent Soil Erosion
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
-
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Fruits
Flowers, Fruits
Other Uses
Decoration Purposes
Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Showy Tree
Bedding Plant, Container, Edging, Edible, Foundation, Groundcover, Hedges, Topiary, Bonsai, Espalier, Tropical
Botanical Name
GYMNOCALYCIUM
CARISSA macrocarpa
Common Name
Chin Cactus
Carissia
In Hindi
Gymnocalycium
Carissa
In German
Gymnocalycium
carissa
In French
Gymnocalycium
carissa
In Spanish
Gymnocalycium
carissa
In Greek
Gymnocalycium
carissa
In Portuguese
Gymnocalycium
carissa
In Polish
Gymnocalycium
carissa
In Latin
Gymnocalycium
carissa
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Gentianales
Family
Cactaceae
Apocynaceae
Genus
Gymnocalycium
Carissa
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
Trichocereeae
Carisseae
Subfamily
Cactoideae
Rauvolfioideae
Number of Species
54100
1
27800
👆🏻