Natal Plum

Carissa macrocarpa

The Natal Plum is a small shrub with shiny green leaves and sweet, juicy fruits. It grows in warm places and is loved by birds and butterflies!

Lebensraum: Coastal areas

Aussehen

The Natal Plum has glossy, dark green leaves and fragrant, star-shaped white flowers. Its most striking feature is its bright red, plum-like fruits and sharp, Y-shaped thorns, making it visually distinct from many common shrubs.

ReichPlantaeStammTracheophytaKlasseMagnoliopsidaOrdnungGentianalesFamilieApocynaceaeGattungCarissa

Natal Plum

Kategorie

Pflanzen

Seltenheit

Common

Gefahr

1/5 · Sehr gering

Snaps

Mach den ersten Snap!

Interessante Fakten

Its juicy red fruits taste like a mix of strawberries and cranberries – super yummy!

Some birds bravely build their nests among its sharp thorns, safe from predators!

The beautiful white flowers release a sweet, gardenia-like scent, especially at night.

This plant grows tough, thorny hedges that protect gardens from unwanted visitors.

Besondere Fähigkeiten

Natal Plum has sharp, Y-shaped thorns that deter hungry animals from nibbling its leaves and stems.

Natal Plum produces bright red, delicious fruits that attract birds and other animals to help scatter its seeds.

Natal Plum can survive long dry spells thanks to its leathery leaves and efficient water storage, thriving in arid conditions.

Maße und Details

Höhe: 200-500 cm
Ausbreitung: 200-500 cm
Blütengröße: 3-5 cm
Blütezeit: Year-round (warm climates)
Essbar: Ja
Giftigkeit: Leicht
Lebenszyklus: Mehrjährig
Bestäubungsmethode: Insekten

Ökologische Zusammenhänge

pollinates

Honey Bee

Apis mellifera

Bees visit its sweet-smelling flowers to collect nectar and pollen.

eaten by

Cape Bulbul

Pycnonotus capensis

This bird enjoys the ripe red fruits, helping to spread Natal Plum seeds.

shelters

Karoo Prinia

Prinia maculosa

Its thorny branches provide a safe, spiky refuge for nesting birds.

Merkmale

Zierpflanze

Zierpflanzen werden hauptsächlich wegen ihres ästhetischen Reizes angebaut und verschönern Landschaften und Gärten mit ihrem attraktiven Laub, ihren Blüten oder ihrer Form.

Strauch

Ein Strauch ist eine verholzende Pflanze, die kleiner als ein Baum ist und typischerweise mehrere Stämme hat, die sich ab oder nahe dem Boden verzweigen.