Carissa macrocarpa

Natal plum

The sizable red fruits have streaks of milky sap inside and can be eaten raw or made into jams, syrups and jellies. It is advisable to only eat the flesh of the fruit itself, without the seeds. In its native South Africa, Natal plum is commonly called the “large num-num,” quite appropriate for its fruits, which taste like tart strawberries or cranberries. Interestingly, all parts of the plant are poisonous except for the ripe fruits. The flowers that precede the fruits have a faint jasmine-like fragrance.

Natal plum is often planted as a screen or hedge due to its dense foliage and spine-tipped leaves. It can be shaped nicely with pruning, and although it enjoys sun, many of our plants grow just fine in understory shade. The plant also does fine when faced with some drought or salt spray.