Life Span
Biennial
Perennial
Type
Bulb, Flowering Plants
Shrub
Origin
World/Pandemic, Europe, Asia
Southern Africa
Types
Crocus tommasinianus, Crocus etruscus, Crocus vernus, Crocus cambessedesii
Carissa Carandas
Number of Varieties
504
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
gardens, Grassland, open Woodlands, orchards, Pastures, tropical environments
Coastal bush land, Sandy areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
2-109-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
10 - 1
12-9
Sunset Zone
21,22
H2, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Cushion/Mound-forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
90.00 cm60.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.00 cm60.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Red, Violet
White
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
-
Hot Pink, Magenta, Purple, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Dark Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Dark Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Oval to roundish
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Winter
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
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Pollution, Drought, Salt, Soil Compaction
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Never Over-water, 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
Prune to stimulate growth, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves, Remove deadheads
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium, Requires high amount of nitrogen
Equal amount of N,P,K
Pests and Diseases
Insects, Red blotch
Aphids
Plant Tolerance
-
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Showy
Flower Petal Number
-
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
Flying insects
Birds
Allergy
Diarrhea, Nausea, Vomiting
Mildly Toxic
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Showy Purposes
along a porch, deck or patio, Ground Cover, small hedge
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for insects
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Iron, Potassium, Vitamin C
Part of Plant Used
Stem
Fruits
Other Uses
Decoration Purposes
Cake, Jam, Jelly, Sauces
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
-
Bedding Plant, Container, Edging, Edible, Foundation, Groundcover, Hedges, Topiary, Bonsai, Espalier, Tropical
Botanical Name
CARDUUS nutans
CARISSA macrocarpa 'Emerald Blanket'
Common Name
Musk Thistle, Nodding Thistle
Large Num-Num
In Hindi
कस्तूरी थीस्ल
नेटाल बेर
In German
Nickende Distel
Natal Plum
In French
Musk Thistle
natal Plum
In Spanish
Cardo de almizcle
Ciruela Natal
In Greek
musk Thistle
Natal Plum
In Portuguese
musk Thistle
Natal Plum
In Polish
Musk Thistle
Natal Plum
In Latin
Carduus MOSCHUS
Natal Plum
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Asterales
Gentianales
Family
Asteraceae
Apocynaceae
Genus
Carduus
Carissa
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
Cynareae
Carisseae
Subfamily
Carduoideae
Rauvolfioideae
Number of Species
20020
1
27800
👆🏻