Life Span
Perennial
  
Annual
  
Type
Shrub
  
Flowering Plants, Shrubs
  
Origin
Southern Africa
  
America
  
Types
Carissa Carandas
  
Lobelia aberdarica, Lobelia leschenaultiana, Lobelia canbyi
  
Number of Varieties
Not Available
  
Habitat
Coastal bush land, Sandy areas
  
Open areas, River side, Woods
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-11
  
4-9
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-9
  
8-1
  
Sunset Zone
H2, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 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
  
Cushion/Mound-forming
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
White
  
Blue, Red, Violet, White
  
Flower Color Modifier
Not Available
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Hot Pink, Magenta, Purple, Red
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green
  
Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
  
Not Available
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Oval to roundish
  
Cushion
  
Thorns
Yes
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Fall, Summer
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial shade
  
Growth Rate
Slow
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
  
Well drained
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
  
Acidic
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
  
Early Fall, Early Summer, Late Summer, Mid fall, Mid Spring
  
Repeat Bloomer
Yes
  
Yes
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Not Available
  
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
  
Container, Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Seedlings
  
Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs
  
Form a Soil ring to water efficiently, Prefer drip-irrigation instead of Over-head watering, Requires watering in the growing season, Use Mulches to help prevent water loss during hot and windy weather, Water twice a day in the initial period
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
  
Acidic
  
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
  
Well drained
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial shade
  
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Cut or pinch the stems, Prune after flowering, Prune to control growth, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Remove deadheads
  
Fertilizers
Equal amount of N,P,K
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Aphids
  
Botrytis Blight, Crown rot, Pythium rot, Stem spot
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Yes
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
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
  
Fine
  
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
Yes
  
Self-Sowing
No
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Birds
  
Birds, Hummingbirds
  
Allergy
Mildly Toxic
  
coma, convulsions, Diarrhea, exhaustion, Nausea, salivation, Vomiting, weakness
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
along a porch, deck or patio, Ground Cover, small hedge
  
Beautification, Bouquets, Showy Purposes, Used for decorating walls, fences, gates, hedges, etc.
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Iron, Potassium, Vitamin C
  
Asthma, Bronchitis, Croup
  
Part of Plant Used
Fruits
  
Leaves, Seeds
  
Other Uses
Cake, Jam, Jelly, Sauces
  
Showy Purposes
  
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, Bog Garden, Edging, Foundation, Hanging Basket, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall
  
Botanical Name
CARISSA macrocarpa 'Emerald Blanket'
  
Lobelia laxiflora
  
Common Name
Large Num-Num
  
Lobelia
  
In Hindi
नेटाल बेर
  
Lobelia
  
In German
Natal Plum
  
Lobelie
  
In French
natal Plum
  
Lobelia
  
In Spanish
Ciruela Natal
  
Lobelia
  
In Greek
Natal Plum
  
λοβηλία
  
In Portuguese
Natal Plum
  
Lobélia
  
In Polish
Natal Plum
  
Lobelia
  
In Latin
Natal Plum
  
Lobelia
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Anthophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Dicotyledonae
  
Order
Gentianales
  
Asterales
  
Family
Apocynaceae
  
Campanulaceae
  
Genus
Carissa
  
Lobelia
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Carisseae
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Rauvolfioideae
  
Lobelioideae
  
Number of Species
Not Available
  
Importance of Natal Plum and Lobelia
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Natal Plum and Lobelia. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Natal Plum and Lobelia 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 Lobelia is Asthma, Bronchitis and Croup. Natal Plum has beauty benefits as follows: Not Available while Lobelia has beauty benefits as follows: Not Available.
Compare Facts of Natal Plum vs Lobelia
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 Lobelia 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 Lobelia have coma, convulsions, Diarrhea, exhaustion, Nausea, salivation, Vomiting and weakness respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Natal Plum has showy fruits and Lobelia has no showy fruits. Also Natal Plum is not flowering and Lobelia is flowering. You can compare Natal Plum and Lobelia facts and facts of other plants too.