Carissa macrocarpa

Carissa macrocarpa (grandiflora) is also called the Natal Plum due to its South African origins and its red, edible and tasty fruits, which are oval in shape and similar in size to our plums. But the comparison stops there: they do not belong to the same botanical family at all, and the 'plums' of our Carissa contain several seeds that are strongly recommended not to be ingested. It is a beautiful evergreen bush with a long and pleasantly fragrant flowering period; its small white flowers resembling those of jasmine, both in structure and fragrance, and especially noticeable at night. In mild climates, especially by the sea, it makes an excellent defensive hedge, due to the long sharp prickles that stand out among its small dark and leathery leaves. It adapts well to container cultivation, allowing it to be placed on the terrace and protected from frost in winter, outside of colder coastal regions.

Carissa macrocarpa is an evergreen shrub of the Apocynaceae family, just like oleanders, false jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides), and periwinkle. It is native to the eastern coast of South Africa, where it grows on the edge of evergreen forests. While it can grow into a small tree reaching over 4 m (13 ft 1 in) in height and 5.5 m (18 ft) width in its natural environment, it will not exceed 3 m (9 ft 10 in) in height and 3.5 m (11 ft 5 in) in spread in colder climates, and will remain even smaller in containers. Its habit is both upright, bushy, and dense, and spreading, wider than tall. Its growth rate varies depending on the growing conditions: in rich, moist, and deep soil, it will be more vigorous than in sandy, poor, and salty soil. Its branches, highly branched, have long bifid, sharp spines measuring 4 to 5 cm (1.6 to 2 in) in length, and are greyish in colour. The evergreen foliage is composed of small, rounded, and leathery leaves: thick, dark green and glossy on the upper side, lighter green and matte underneath. They are densely arranged on the branches, almost imbricate. The flowering period is particularly long, from May to September. From coiled flower buds on the right side, small white flowers with a diameter of 3 cm (1.2 in) bloom, composed of a tube expanding into 5 lanceolate petals arranged in a star shape. Their fragrance, mainly nocturnal, attracts pollinators that work at night. The fruit is fleshy, smooth, oval to oblong, measuring 4 to 6 cm (1.6 to 2.4 in) in length and 2 to 4 cm (0.8 to 1.6 in) in width. They are ripe and edible when they turn magenta-red. Juicy, sweet, rich in vitamin C, and with a mild flavour, they contain about fifteen small brown and flat seeds that are toxic if ingested. These beautiful 'plums' can be used to make delicious jelly.

Resistant to drought and salt spray but not very hardy (down to -5 °C (23 °F)), the Natal plum is well adapted to coastal areas, from the Mediterranean coast to the Atlantic coast spared by severe frosts. Its formidable spines require it to be kept away from high traffic areas and young children. It can be used to create evergreen hedges at the edge of the garden, along with laurel-tin, Griselinia littoralis, myrtles, and oleanders. They will protect it from wind, unwanted visitors, and prying eyes. It adapts well to container cultivation, which can be placed on the terrace or balcony. This cultivation method allows gardeners in colder regions to protect it from severe frost in an unheated greenhouse or conservatory in winter. Its height will be less impressive in pots, but the plant will quickly fill the available space by spreading. In open ground, it can also be used in a grove, alone or in combination with other evergreen shrubs such as purple laurel-tin, Photinia Pink Marble, Elaeagnus, persistent Ceanothus, or Pittosporum. It will also be very useful for creating a dense screen on a terrace, facing into prevailing winds.