Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Grass
  
Shrub
  
Origin
Asia, Europe, North Africa
  
Southern Africa
  
Types
purple moor-grass 'Moorhexe', variegated purple moor-grass
  
Carissa Carandas
  
Habitat
Boggy areas, Dry and Young forest Heaths, Lowland
  
Coastal bush land, Sandy areas
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-8
  
9-11
  
AHS Heat Zone
9 - 1
  
12-9
  
Sunset Zone
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17
  
H2, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Clump-Forming
  
Cushion/Mound-forming
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Dark Purple
  
White
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Not Available
  
Fruit Color
Non Fruiting Plant
  
Hot Pink, Magenta, Purple, Red
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Dark Green
  
Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
  
Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Yellow green, Gold
  
Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Tan
  
Dark Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Needle like
  
Oval to roundish
  
Thorns
No
  
Yes
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Growth Rate
Medium
  
Slow
  
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
  
Acidic, Neutral
  
Soil Drainage
Average
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
  
Indeterminate
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
Yes
  
Tolerances
Not Available
  
Drought
  
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
  
Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Divison, Transplanting, Vegetative Reproduction
  
Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Low
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Requires regular watering, Water more frequently during periods of extreme drought
  
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
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Pruning
Prune in winter, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Fertilizers
No need to fertilize every year
  
Equal amount of N,P,K
  
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free
  
Aphids
  
Plant Tolerance
Not Available
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
Yes
  
Yes
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
Yes
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
Yes
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Fine
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
Sometimes
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
No
  
Attracts
Not Available
  
Birds
  
Allergy
Not Available
  
Mildly Toxic
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes, Water gardening
  
along a porch, deck or patio, Ground Cover, small hedge
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
No
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
No fertilizer, pesticides, or herbicides needed
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
No Medicinal Use
  
Iron, Potassium, Vitamin C
  
Part of Plant Used
Whole plant
  
Fruits
  
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant
  
Cake, Jam, Jelly, Sauces
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
Yes
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Container, Foundation, Mixed Border
  
Bedding Plant, Container, Edging, Edible, Foundation, Groundcover, Hedges, Topiary, Bonsai, Espalier, Tropical
  
Botanical Name
Molinia caerulea
  
CARISSA macrocarpa 'Emerald Blanket'
  
Common Name
purple moor-grass
  
Large Num-Num
  
In Hindi
बैंगनी दलदल घास
  
नेटाल बेर
  
In German
Pfeifengras
  
Natal Plum
  
In French
pourpre lande-grass
  
natal Plum
  
In Spanish
púrpura amarra-hierba
  
Ciruela Natal
  
In Greek
μωβ Moor-γρασίδι
  
Natal Plum
  
In Portuguese
purple moor-grass
  
Natal Plum
  
In Polish
fioletowy Moor-trawa
  
Natal Plum
  
In Latin
Maurus herba-purpura,
  
Natal Plum
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Liliopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Cyperales
  
Gentianales
  
Family
Poaceae
  
Apocynaceae
  
Genus
Molinia
  
Carissa
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
  
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Carisseae
  
Subfamily
Not Available
  
Rauvolfioideae
  
Number of Species
Not Available
  
Not Available