Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Herbs
Shrub
Origin
Mexico, Central America, South America
Southern Africa
Types
Dysphania ambrosioides (L.) Mosyakin & Clemants
Carissa Carandas
Number of Varieties
14
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
shrublands, tropical grasslands
Coastal bush land, Sandy areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
-99999-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
12-9
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H2, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Cushion/Mound-forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
45.70 cm60.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
50.80 cm60.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Green
White
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Green, Light Green, Tan
Hot Pink, Magenta, Purple, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Light Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Dark Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Lanceolate
Oval to roundish
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Very Fast
Slow
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires a lot of watering, Requires regular watering
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, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Clay, 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
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Equal amount of N,P,K
Pests and Diseases
Pest Free
Aphids
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
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
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Flies
Birds
Allergy
allergic reaction, Skin irritation
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
Detoxification, Insect Bites, Stomach pain, Treat Parasitic Intestinal Worms
Iron, Potassium, Vitamin C
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Seeds
Fruits
Other Uses
Pesticide, The essential oil is used as insect repellent
Cake, Jam, Jelly, Sauces
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Herb / Vegetable
Bedding Plant, Container, Edging, Edible, Foundation, Groundcover, Hedges, Topiary, Bonsai, Espalier, Tropical
Botanical Name
CHENOPODIUM ambrosioides
CARISSA macrocarpa 'Emerald Blanket'
Common Name
Mexican Tea
Large Num-Num
In Hindi
Dysphania ambrosioides
नेटाल बेर
In German
Mexikanischer Drüsengänsefuß
Natal Plum
In French
Épazote
natal Plum
In Spanish
Dysphania ambrosioides
Ciruela Natal
In Greek
Μεξικού τσάι
Natal Plum
In Portuguese
Dysphania ambrosioides
Natal Plum
In Polish
Komosa piżmowa
Natal Plum
In Latin
Dysphania ambrosioides
Natal Plum
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Gentianales
Family
Chenopodiaceae
Apocynaceae
Genus
Dysphania
Carissa
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
Dysphanieae
Carisseae
Subfamily
Chenopodioideae
Rauvolfioideae
Number of Species
3020
1
27800
👆🏻