Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Origin
Southern Africa
Europe, Morocco, Western Asia
Habitat
Coastal bush land, Sandy areas
Boggy areas, Dry and Young forest Heaths, Mountain Slopes, Temperate Regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-11
5-8
Sunset Zone
H2, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
A1, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 15, 16, 17
Habit
Cushion/Mound-forming
Clump-Forming
Flower Color
White
White, Red, Pink
Flower Color Modifier
-
-
Fruit Color
Hot Pink, Magenta, Purple, Red
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green
Green, Gray Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Green, Gray Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Green, Gray Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
Gray Green, Dark Green
Leaf Shape
Oval to roundish
Needle like
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Divison, Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs
Average Water Needs
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Prune in early summer, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Equal amount of N,P,K
Ammonium Nitrate
Pests and Diseases
Aphids
Armillaria mellea, Chlorosis, Crown rot, Powdery mildew, Root rot, Rust, Verticillium Wilt
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Dry soil, Shade areas, Wet Site
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single, Double, Semi-Double
Foliage Texture
Medium
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Attracts
Birds
Bees, Butterflies, Moths
Aesthetic Uses
along a porch, deck or patio, Ground Cover, small hedge
Beautification, Bouquets, Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
Skin inflammation
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Food for animals, Food for insects
Medicinal Uses
Iron, Potassium, Vitamin C
Arthritis, Bladder Infection, Colic, Diarrhea, Gout, Inflammation, Kidney Stones, Rheumatism, Stomach pain, Urinary tract problems
Part of Plant Used
Fruits
Flowers
Other Uses
Cake, Jam, Jelly, Sauces
Can be made into a herbal tea, Food for animals, Used for its medicinal properties
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
Container, Cutflower, Edging, Foundation, Groundcover, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall
Botanical Name
CARISSA macrocarpa 'Emerald Blanket'
CALLUNA vulgaris
Common Name
Large Num-Num
Heather, Common heather, Ling
In German
Natal Plum
Heidekraut
In French
natal Plum
bruyère
In Spanish
Ciruela Natal
brezo
In Greek
Natal Plum
ερείκη
In Portuguese
Natal Plum
urze
In Polish
Natal Plum
wrzos
In Latin
Natal Plum
Heather
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Gentianales
Ericales
Family
Apocynaceae
Ericaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Subfamily
Rauvolfioideae
Ericoideae
Importance of Natal Plum and Heather
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Natal Plum and Heather. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Natal Plum and Heather as they differ in many characteristics such as their life, care, benefits, facts, etc. Every gardener must at least have the slightest clue about the plants he wants to plant in his garden. Compare their benefits, which differ in many ways like facts and uses. The medicinal use of Natal Plum is Iron, Potassium and Vitamin C whereas of Heather is Arthritis, Bladder Infection, Colic, Diarrhea, Gout, Inflammation, Kidney Stones, Rheumatism, Stomach pain and Urinary tract problems. Natal Plum has beauty benefits as follows: while Heather has beauty benefits as follows: .
Compare Facts of Natal Plum vs Heather
How to choose the best garden plant for your garden depending upon its facts? Here garden plant comparison will help you to solve this query. Compare the facts of Natal Plum vs Heather and know which one to choose. As garden plants have benefits and other uses, allergy is also a major drawback of plants for some people. Allergic reactions of Natal Plum are Mildly Toxic whereas of Heather have respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Natal Plum has showy fruits and Heather has no showy fruits. Also Natal Plum is not flowering and Heather is not flowering . You can compare Natal Plum and Heather facts and facts of other plants too.