Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Shrub
  
Broadleaf Evergreen, Grass
  
Origin
Southern Africa
  
Mexico
  
Types
Carissa Carandas
  
Otatea acuminata ssp. acuminata, Otatea acuminata ssp. aztecorum, Otatea acuminata 'Dwarf'
  
Habitat
Coastal bush land, Sandy areas
  
Subtropical climates, tropical environments
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-11
  
9-12
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-9
  
10 - 7
  
Sunset Zone
H2, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
H1, H2, 9, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Cushion/Mound-forming
  
Weeping
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
White
  
Non Flowering Plant
  
Flower Color Modifier
Not Available
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Hot Pink, Magenta, Purple, Red
  
Non Fruiting Plant
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green
  
Green, Yellow green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
  
Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
  
Green, Yellow green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
  
Green, Yellow green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Oval to roundish
  
Long linear and narrow
  
Thorns
Yes
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Growth Rate
Slow
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
  
Acidic, Neutral
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
  
Not Available
  
Repeat Bloomer
Yes
  
No
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Drought
  
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
  
Container, Ground
  
How to Plant?
Seedlings
  
Divison
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs
  
Average Water Needs, Never Over-water
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
  
Acidic, Neutral
  
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Prune every year, Prune to control growth, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
  
Fertilizers
Equal amount of N,P,K
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Requires high amount of nitrogen
  
Pests and Diseases
Aphids
  
Aphids, Mealybugs
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Showy
  
None
  
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
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Medium
  
Fine
  
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
No
  
No
  
Attracts
Birds
  
Mealybugs
  
Allergy
Mildly Toxic
  
Skin irritation
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
along a porch, deck or patio, Ground Cover, small hedge
  
Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
No Beauty Benefits
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
No
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification, Windbreak
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Iron, Potassium, Vitamin C
  
No Medicinal Use
  
Part of Plant Used
Fruits
  
Whole plant
  
Other Uses
Cake, Jam, Jelly, Sauces
  
Used as Ornamental plant
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Container, Edging, Edible, Foundation, Groundcover, Hedges, Topiary, Bonsai, Espalier, Tropical
  
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Tropical
  
Botanical Name
CARISSA macrocarpa 'Emerald Blanket'
  
OTATEA acuminata
  
Common Name
Large Num-Num
  
Clumping Bamboo, Mexican Weeping Bamboo
  
In Hindi
नेटाल बेर
  
मैक्सिकन बांस
  
In German
Natal Plum
  
Mexican Bambus
  
In French
natal Plum
  
Bamboo mexicaine
  
In Spanish
Ciruela Natal
  
bambú mexicana
  
In Greek
Natal Plum
  
Μεξικού μπαμπού
  
In Portuguese
Natal Plum
  
Bamboo Mexican
  
In Polish
Natal Plum
  
Mexican Bamboo
  
In Latin
Natal Plum
  
Mexicanus Bamboo
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Not Available
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Not Available
  
Order
Gentianales
  
Poales
  
Family
Apocynaceae
  
Poaceae
  
Genus
Carissa
  
Otatea
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
  
Tribe
Carisseae
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Rauvolfioideae
  
Not Available
  
Number of Species
Not Available
  
Not Available