# 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! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Coastal areas - **Also known as:** Carissa, Natal Plum Tree ![Natal Plum](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Starr_010820-0009_Carissa_macrocarpa.jpg&width=800) Photo: Forest & Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Starr_010820-0009_Carissa_macrocarpa.jpg) ## Appearance 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Gentianales - **Family:** Apocynaceae - **Genus:** Carissa ## Interesting facts - 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. ## Special abilities - **Thorny Protector:** Natal Plum has sharp, Y-shaped thorns that deter hungry animals from nibbling its leaves and stems. - **Fruity Attraction:** Natal Plum produces bright red, delicious fruits that attract birds and other animals to help scatter its seeds. - **Drought Survivor:** Natal Plum can survive long dry spells thanks to its leathery leaves and efficient water storage, thriving in arid conditions. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 200-500 cm - **Spread:** 200-500 cm - **Flower Size:** 3-5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Year-round (warm climates) - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **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. - **Shelter:** Karoo Prinia (*Prinia maculosa*) — Its thorny branches provide a safe, spiky refuge for nesting birds. ## Traits - [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [Fruit Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-tree): A fruit tree is a perennial tree that produces fruit, which is edible to humans or animals. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always ask an adult before touching or eating any plants. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Natal Plum? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Natal Plum? 200-500 cm ### How wide does Natal Plum spread? 200-500 cm ### How big are the flowers on Natal Plum? 3-5 cm ### When does Natal Plum bloom? Year-round (warm climates) ### Is Natal Plum edible? Yes ### Is Natal Plum toxic? Mild ### What is Natal Plum's lifecycle? Perennial ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Natal Plum: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/natal-plum)