Life Span
Perennial
Annual
Type
Shrub
Vegetable
Origin
Southern Africa
America
Types
Carissa Carandas
Cucurbita pepo
Number of Varieties
420
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Coastal bush land, Sandy areas
agricultural areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-11-9999
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-9
-
Sunset Zone
H2, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
-
Habit
Cushion/Mound-forming
Bushy, Evergreen
Plant Size
Minimum Height
60.00 cm60.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
60.00 cm30.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White
Lavender
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Hot Pink, Magenta, Purple, Red
Purple, Black
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
Heart shaped, toothed with three to five lobes
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
-
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Slow
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Moist, Well drained
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought, Pollution, Shade areas, Soil Compaction
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs
Allow soil to be completely dry in between waterings, 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
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, 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
cut main flower spike, Proper mowing practices are necessary, Remove damaged fruit
Fertilizers
Equal amount of N,P,K
Balanced liquid fertilizer every 4 weeks, Compost
Pests and Diseases
Aphids
Bacterial Stem Rot, Mildew, Red blotch, Ring Rot, White spots
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Shade areas, Shallow soil, Soil Compaction
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
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds
Leafminer, Mice, Rodents
Allergy
Mildly Toxic
Sore Throat, Stomach pain
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
along a porch, deck or patio, Ground Cover, small hedge
Ornamental use
Beauty Benefits
-
Anti-ageing, Remove blemishes
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Fixes Nitrogen, Food for animals
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Iron, Potassium, Vitamin C
Antibacterial, Antioxidants, Detoxification, Rich in Potassium, Weight loss
Part of Plant Used
Fruits
Flowers, Fruits
Other Uses
Cake, Jam, Jelly, Sauces
Cattle Fodder, Culinary use, Used as a laxative
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Container, Edging, Edible, Foundation, Groundcover, Hedges, Topiary, Bonsai, Espalier, Tropical
Container, Edible, Herb, Vegetable
Botanical Name
CARISSA macrocarpa 'Emerald Blanket'
Cucurbita pepo
Common Name
Large Num-Num
Zucchini, courgette
In Hindi
नेटाल बेर
तोरी
In German
Natal Plum
Zucchini
In French
natal Plum
Courgette
In Spanish
Ciruela Natal
calabacín
In Greek
Natal Plum
κολοκύθι
In Portuguese
Natal Plum
abobrinha
In Polish
Natal Plum
Kabaczek
In Latin
Natal Plum
zucchini
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Gentianales
Violales
Family
Apocynaceae
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Carissa
Cucurbita
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
-
Tribe
Carisseae
-
Subfamily
Rauvolfioideae
Solanoideae
Number of Species
20-
1
27800
👆🏻