Carissa grandiflora

(E. Mey.) A. DC.

Carissa, Natal plum, Boxwood beauty

Apocynaceae Edible: Fruit 13,155 iNaturalist observations

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Description

A large shrub. It grows up to 5 m tall. It is thorny. The leaves are dark green, shiny and very thick. Leaves are on thick branches with sharp branched thorns. The flowers are white and fragrant. They are 4-5 cm across. Fruit are 5 cm long, oval and red. The fruit have thin skin and red flesh. There are several round white seeds inside.

Edible Uses

The fruit are eaten fresh, used in salads, sauces, and juice, or processed into pies and preserves.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are eaten fresh or used in salads, sauces and for juice. They are also used in pies and preserves.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

A subtropical plant. It can tolerate salt spray. It is resistant to wind damage. It can grow on most soil types. It needs good drainage and plenty of sunlight. It can tolerate cold weather. It is damaged by frost.

Where It Grows

Africa, Asia, Australia, Hawaii, India, Indochina, North America, Pacific, Philippines, SE Asia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sri Lanka, Thailand, USA,

Cultivation

Plants can easily be grown from seed. Seedlings may produce kinds with poorer fruit. Cuttings are also commonly used to maintain preferred kinds. Air layering can also be used. Plants can be 2 m apart of 1 m apart if used as a hedge.

Production

It is a slow growing shrub. Trees produce in 5 years.

Other Information

It is a cultivated plant.

Notes

There about 20-37 Carissa species. All Carissa species bear edible fruit. They grow in the tropics and subtropics.

Nutrition

Part	Moisture	kJ	kcal	Protein	Vit A	Vit C	Iron	Zinc
Fruit	81.9	284	68	0.4	—	—	1.3	—

Synonyms

See Carissa macrocarpa

Also Known As

Amatungula, Hiip-mai-ngaam

References (22)

Ambasta S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 106
Ashton, M. S., et al 1997, A Field Guide to the Common Trees and Shrubs of Sri Lanka. WHT Publications Ltd. p 107
Bircher, A. G. & Bircher, W. H., 2000, Encyclopedia of Fruit Trees and Edible Flowering Plants in Egypt and the Subtropics. AUC Press. p 84
Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 215
Burkill, I.H., 1966, A Dictionary of the Economic Products of the Malay Peninsula. Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Vol 1 (A-H) p 469

Show all 22 references

Darley, J.J., 1993, Know and Enjoy Tropical Fruit. P & S Publishers. p 122
Engel, D.H., & Phummai, S., 2000, A Field Guide to Tropical Plants of Asia. Timber Press. p 144
Flowerdew, B., 2000, Complete Fruit Book. Kyle Cathie Ltd., London. p 163
Food Composition Tables for use in East Asia FAO http://www.fao.org/infoods/directory No. 926
Gouldstone, S., 1983, Growing your own Food-bearing Plants in Australia. Macmillan p 110
Hardwick, G., 2001, Economically Useful Plants for Northern Australia: Master Species List. Crusader eBooks.
Hedrick, U.P., 1919, (Ed.), Sturtevant's edible plants of the world. p 163
John, L., & Stevenson, V., 1979, The Complete Book of Fruit. Angus & Robertson p 201
Kiple, K.F. & Ornelas, K.C., (eds), 2000, The Cambridge World History of Food. CUP p 1821
Lord, E.E., & Willis, J.H., 1999, Shrubs and Trees for Australian gardens. Lothian. p 211
Macmillan, H.F. (Revised Barlow, H.S., et al) 1991, Tropical Planting and Gardening. Sixth edition. Malayan Nature Society. Kuala Lumpur. p 296
Prodr. 8:335. 1844
Purseglove, J.W., 1968, Tropical Crops Dicotyledons, Longmans. p 626
Self, M., 199, Phoenix Seeds catalogue. p 16
Swaminathan, M.S., and Kochnar, S.L., 2007, An Atlas of Major Flowering Trees in India. Macmillan. p 210
Tankard, G., 1990, Tropical fruit. An Australian Guide to Growing and using exotic fruit. Viking p 112
Zeven, A. C. & de West, J. M. J., 1982, Dictionary of cultivated plants and their regions of diversity. Wageningen. p 122