Life Span
Perennial
  
Annual
  
Type
Shrub
  
Flowering Plants
  
Origin
Southern Africa
  
China
  
Types
Carissa Carandas
  
Ribbon series, Milady aster
  
Habitat
Coastal bush land, Sandy areas
  
Cold Regions
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-11
  
3-9
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-9
  
9 - 1
  
Sunset Zone
H2, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Cushion/Mound-forming
  
Upright/Erect
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
White
  
White, Yellow, Purple, Pink, Rose, Crimson, Blue Violet
  
Flower Color Modifier
Not Available
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Hot Pink, Magenta, Purple, Red
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
  
Light Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Oval to roundish
  
Arrowhead
  
Thorns
Yes
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer, Fall
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial shade
  
Growth Rate
Slow
  
Medium
  
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
  
Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
  
Acidic, Neutral
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
  
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall, Late Fall
  
Repeat Bloomer
Yes
  
Yes
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Drought
  
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
  
Container, Ground
  
How to Plant?
Seedlings
  
Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs
  
Do Not over Water, Keep ground moist, Never Over-water, Requires a lot of watering, Requires regular watering
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Alternate Days
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
  
Slightly Acidic
  
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
  
Loamy, Well drained
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Loamy, Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun
  
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Cut or pinch the stems, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Fertilizers
Equal amount of N,P,K
  
Compost, Well-rotted manure
  
Pests and Diseases
Aphids
  
fungus
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single, Double, Semi-Double
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
Yes
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
No
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Medium
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
No
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Birds
  
Not Available
  
Allergy
Mildly Toxic
  
Asthma
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
along a porch, deck or patio, Ground Cover, small hedge
  
Beautification, Bouquets, Hanging Basket, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification, Food for insects, Versatility, Very little waste
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Iron, Potassium, Vitamin C
  
Rheumatism
  
Part of Plant Used
Fruits
  
Flowers
  
Other Uses
Cake, Jam, Jelly, Sauces
  
Decoration Purposes, Employed in herbal medicine, Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Container, Edging, Edible, Foundation, Groundcover, Hedges, Topiary, Bonsai, Espalier, Tropical
  
Bedding Plant, Container, Cottage garden, Rock Garden, Showy Tree
  
Botanical Name
CARISSA macrocarpa 'Emerald Blanket'
  
CALLISTEPHUS chinensis
  
Common Name
Large Num-Num
  
China Aster
  
In Hindi
नेटाल बेर
  
चीन एस्टर
  
In German
Natal Plum
  
China Aster
  
In French
natal Plum
  
Chine Aster
  
In Spanish
Ciruela Natal
  
aster de China
  
In Greek
Natal Plum
  
Κίνα Aster
  
In Portuguese
Natal Plum
  
China Aster
  
In Polish
Natal Plum
  
Chiny Aster
  
In Latin
Natal Plum
  
Sinis Aster
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Gentianales
  
Asterales
  
Family
Apocynaceae
  
Asteraceae
  
Genus
Carissa
  
Callistephus
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Carisseae
  
Astereae
  
Subfamily
Rauvolfioideae
  
Asteroideae
  
Number of Species
Not Available