Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Shrub
Cactus
Origin
Southern Africa
South America
Types
Carissa Carandas
Gymnocalycium alboareolatum , Gymnocalycium amerhauseri , Gymnocalycium andreae
Number of Varieties
454
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Coastal bush land, Sandy areas
Desert, Semi desert
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-119-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-9
12-1
Sunset Zone
H2, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
13,21,22,23,24
Habit
Cushion/Mound-forming
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
60.00 cm12.50 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
60.00 cm8.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White
creamy white, Light Pink, Pink
Flower Color Modifier
-
-
Fruit Color
Hot Pink, Magenta, Purple, Red
Pink
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
Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Oval to roundish
-
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
All year
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Part sun, Partial shade, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Sand, Sandy
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Sandy
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
All year
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Dry Conditions, Dry soil, Full Sun, Heat Tolerance
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Offsets
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs
Do not water excessively
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Sandy
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Dry
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Part sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
-
Fertilizers
Equal amount of N,P,K
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, can go long without fertilizers
Pests and Diseases
Aphids
Mealy bugs, Root rot
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Dry soil, Full Sun, Heat Tolerance
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
Medium
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds
Ants, Mealybugs
Allergy
Mildly Toxic
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
along a porch, deck or patio, Ground Cover, small hedge
Beautification, Cottage Garden, Ornamental use
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Food for animals, Food for birds, Food for insects
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Iron, Potassium, Vitamin C
-
Part of Plant Used
Fruits
Bark, Fruits
Other Uses
Cake, Jam, Jelly, Sauces
Decoration Purposes
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Container, Edging, Edible, Foundation, Groundcover, Hedges, Topiary, Bonsai, Espalier, Tropical
Container, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Showy Tree
Botanical Name
CARISSA macrocarpa 'Emerald Blanket'
GYMNOCALYCIUM
Common Name
Large Num-Num
Chin Cactus
In Hindi
नेटाल बेर
Gymnocalycium
In German
Natal Plum
Gymnocalycium
In French
natal Plum
Gymnocalycium
In Spanish
Ciruela Natal
Gymnocalycium
In Greek
Natal Plum
Gymnocalycium
In Portuguese
Natal Plum
Gymnocalycium
In Polish
Natal Plum
Gymnocalycium
In Latin
Natal Plum
Gymnocalycium
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Gentianales
Caryophyllales
Family
Apocynaceae
Cactaceae
Genus
Carissa
Gymnocalycium
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots
Tribe
Carisseae
Trichocereeae
Subfamily
Rauvolfioideae
Cactoideae
Number of Species
2054
1
27800
👆🏻