Karissa, pot diameter 24 cm (10 liters) (perennial for the garden)

• Light: Full sun to partial shade. Highly versatile - thrives in almost any lighting condition.
• Watering: Moderate. Drought tolerant once established, but blooms and fruits better with regular watering.
• Temperature: Loves heat! Sensitive to frost - suitable for warm regions (central and southern Israel).
• Soil: Adapts to almost any soil type! Prefers well-draining soil.
• Fertilization: Balanced fertilizer in spring. Low maintenance.
• Pruning: Responds well to pruning - excellent for shaping hedges. Beware of the thorns!
• Salinity: Highly tolerant - suitable for coastal regions.

• Frost Damage: Brown/black leaves after frost. Prune in spring - usually recovers well.
• No Fruit: Lack of pollination (needs more than one plant) or insufficient sun.
• Sparse Blooms: Too much shade or lack of water during the blooming season.
• Yellow Leaves: Overwatering or poor drainage.
• Aphids: Check under the leaves. Treat with potassium soap.
• Scale: Small insects on branches. Remove manually or treat with oil.
• Slow Growth: Normal in the first year. Be patient - growth will accelerate once established.

• 🌿 Evergreen: Glossy, dense foliage all year round.
• 🌸 Fragrant Flowers: Star-shaped white flowers with a sweet jasmine scent.
• 🍇 Edible Fruit: Red-purple fruits with a plum-cranberry flavor!
• 🔒 Secure Hedge: Sharp thorns create an impassable barrier.
• 💧 Drought Tolerant: Water-efficient once established.
• 🌊 Salt Tolerant: Excellent for coastal regions.
• ✂️ Easy to Shape: Tolerates heavy pruning and maintains form.
• 🦋 Attracts Butterflies: Flowers and fruits attract wildlife.

• Scientific Name: Carissa macrocarpa (syn. C. grandiflora)
• Family: Apocynaceae
• Origin: South Africa (Natal)
• Mature Height: 1.5-3 meters (up to 6 meters if unpruned)
• Mature Width: 1.5-3 meters
• Growth Rate: Moderate.
• Plant Type: Evergreen shrub.
• Blooming: Almost all year round (peak in spring-summer).
• Common Names: Natal Plum, Amatungulu.
• 📏 The height and width refer to the mature plant – the size it will eventually reach, not the size at which it is shipped.

• 'Fancy': Extra large fruit - best for eating!
• 'Gifford': Compact, dense growth, medium fruit.
• 'Boxwood Beauty': Dwarf, thornless! Perfect for borders and containers.
• 'Green Carpet': Trailing/low - excellent ground cover.
• 'Prostrata': Low trailing, suitable for slopes.
• 'Horizontalis': Horizontal growth, suitable for balconies.
• 'Tomlinson': Compact with rich blooming.

• Fresh Eating: Ripe fruits (dark red-purple) are delicious as is!
• Jam: Carissa jam with a unique plum-cranberry flavor.
• Jelly: Naturally high pectin - excellent for jelly.
• Sauce: Sauce for meat or cheese.
• Desserts: Addition to cakes, pies, and mousse.
• Beverages: Juice, smoothies, or homemade alcohol.

💡 Tip: Only pick fully ripe fruits (dark red-purple, slightly soft). Unripe fruits are very sour!

• Secure Hedge: Thorns create an impenetrable barrier - natural security!
• Decorative Hedge: Evergreen + flowers + fruit = beautiful all year round.
• Accent Plant: As a focal point in the garden.
• Large Container: Dwarf varieties are suitable for pots.
• Ground Cover: Trailing varieties for slopes.
• Coastal Garden: Salt tolerance - ideal!
• Desert Garden: Water-efficient.