Life Span
Perennial
Annual
Type
Shrub
Tender Perennial
Origin
Southern Africa
Southeastern Asia
Types
Carissa Carandas
Eddoe taro, Dasheen taro
Habitat
Coastal bush land, Sandy areas
agricultural areas, Hillside, Warm and moist climatic conditions
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-11
10-11
Sunset Zone
H2, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Cushion/Mound-forming
Clump-Forming
Flower Color
White
White, Green
Flower Color Modifier
-
-
Fruit Color
Hot Pink, Magenta, Purple, Red
Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green
Dark Green, Ivory
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Dark Green, Ivory
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Dark Green, Ivory
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
Dark Green, Ivory
Leaf Shape
Oval to roundish
V-Shaped
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Partial shade, Full Shade
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Indeterminate
Tolerances
Drought
Heat Tolerance, Humidity, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shallow soil
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Container
How to Plant?
Seedlings
From Rhizomes
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs
Needs 2-3 times watering per week, Needs a lot of water initially
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Partial shade, Full Shade
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
-
Fertilizers
Equal amount of N,P,K
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Less fertilizing
Pests and Diseases
Aphids
Aphids, Rats, Snails
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Heat Tolerance, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shade areas
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
Flower Petal Number
Single
-
Foliage Texture
Medium
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Attracts
Birds
Aphids, Bugs, Snails
Allergy
Mildly Toxic
Swelling in mouth, Throat itching
Aesthetic Uses
along a porch, deck or patio, Ground Cover, small hedge
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
Poison Ivy, Skin cleanser, Weightloss
Environmental Uses
Air purification
No fertilizer, pesticides, or herbicides needed, Prevent weeds
Medicinal Uses
Iron, Potassium, Vitamin C
Aging, Laxative, Weight loss
Part of Plant Used
Fruits
Leaf Stalks, Leaves
Other Uses
Cake, Jam, Jelly, Sauces
Used As Food, 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, Groundcover, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
CARISSA macrocarpa 'Emerald Blanket'
ALOCASIA micholitziana
Common Name
Large Num-Num
Elephant Ear, Taro
In German
Natal Plum
Colocasia (Pflanzengattung)
In French
natal Plum
Colocasia
In Spanish
Ciruela Natal
Colocasia
In Greek
Natal Plum
Colocasia
In Portuguese
Natal Plum
Colocasia
In Polish
Natal Plum
Kolokazja
In Latin
Natal Plum
Colocasia
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Liliopsida
Family
Apocynaceae
Araceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Monocots
Tribe
Carisseae
Colocasiodeae
Subfamily
Rauvolfioideae
Aroideae
Difference Between Natal Plum and Taro
If you are confused whether Natal Plum or Taro are same, here are some features about those plants to help you choose better. Many people think that these two plants have the same characteristics, but one can see Natal Plum and Taro Information and learn more about it. Fertilizers required for proper growth of Natal Plum are Equal amount of N,P,K, whereas for Taro fertilizers required are All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer and Less fertilizing. Hence, one should know the basic difference between Natal Plum and Taro if you are planning to have them in your garden to enhance its beauty.
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Flowering PlantsImportance of Natal Plum and Taro
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Natal Plum and Taro. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Natal Plum and Taro 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 Taro is Aging, Laxative and Weight loss. Natal Plum has beauty benefits as follows: while Taro has beauty benefits as follows: .
Compare Facts of Natal Plum vs Taro
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 Taro 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 Taro have Swelling in mouth and Throat itching respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Natal Plum has showy fruits and Taro has no showy fruits. Also Natal Plum is not flowering and Taro is not flowering . You can compare Natal Plum and Taro facts and facts of other plants too.