Lower Risk

Carissa macrocarpa (Natal Plum)

(C. grandiflora, C. praetermissa)

Carissa macrocarpa is a shrub native to Southern Africa. It is commonly known as the Natal Plum and, in South Africa, the Large Num-Num. Like other Carissa species, C. macrocarpa is a spiny, evergreen shrub containing latex. They bloom for months at a time. The ornamental plump, round, crimson fruit appears in summer and fall (autumn) at the same time as the blooms. In moderate, coastal areas the fruits appear through the year. Although widely planted around the world, and naturalised in Florida, there is no evidence that the species is invasive.