Natal Plum - Carissa Macrocarpa

🌿Why You’ll Love It

✔Delicious Edible Fruit– Sweet, tart, cranberry-like berries perfect for jams, jellies, and eating fresh.
✔Extremely Drought-Tolerant– A superstar for UAE landscapes, thriving on minimal water once established.
✔Double-Duty Plant– Lush evergreen foliage and fragrant flowers enhance gardens, while its thorns create a secure barrier.
✔Salt-Tolerant– Excellent for coastal areas and gardens with slightly saline soil.

🌱 Growth & Appearance
Height: 1–3 meters tall and wide (can be trimmed as a hedge or specimen shrub).
Foliage: Glossy, deep green, oval leaves on intensely thorny branches.
Flowers: Star-shaped, white, and intensely fragrant (especially in the evening).
Fruit: Shiny red plum-shaped berries (2-5 cm long).

🏆 Survival Superpowers
Heat Warrior: Loves full, blazing sun and reflects the intense UAE heat.
Drought Champion: Exceptionally low water needs after the first year.
Pest Resistant: Its hardy nature and thorns make it largely trouble-free.

☀️ Light & Location
Best: Full sun. Requires at least 6-8 hours of direct sun for best flowering and fruiting.
Tolerates: Very light shade, but flowering will be reduced.
Perfect Use: Ideal as a security hedge around property boundaries or under windows.

💦 Watering
Establishment: Water regularly to develop a deep and strong root system.
Established: Deeply water every 2-3 weeks during summer. Allow soil to dry out completely between waterings.
Winter: Reduce watering to once a month or less.

🌡️ Climate & Soil Tips
Ideal temp: Thrives in intense heat and is hardy down to about 0°C for short periods.
Soil: Must have excellent drainage. Prefers sandy, gritty soils. Tolerates poor and saline soils.
UAE Hack: Plant in raised mounds or beds to guarantee drainage and prevent root rot.

✂️ Maintenance & Harvesting
Pruning: Wear thick gloves! Prune in early spring to shape and control size. Can be kept formal or informal.
Harvest: Fruit is ripe when deep red and slightly soft to the touch.
Feeding: Apply a balanced slow-release fertilizer in spring to encourage growth and fruiting.

🚀 Pro Tips for UAE Gardeners
Not fruiting? → Likely needs more sun. Ensure it's not shaded for most of the day.
Yellowing leaves? → Almost always a sign of overwatering or poor drainage.
Handling: Always wear protective clothing when pruning due to its sharp, forked thorns.
Pests: Very pest-resistant. Watch for minor scale insects; treat with horticultural oil.