Carissa spinarum
| |
| Scientific name | Carissa spinarum[1] |
|---|---|
| Common names | Conkerberry; bush plum |
| Genus | Carissa |
| Family | Apocynaceae |
| Order | Gentianales |
| Growth form | Spiny evergreen shrub or small tree |
| Native range | Tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, southern Asia, Australia, and Indian Ocean islands |
| Mature size | About 1–5.5 m tall[2] |
| Climate and site | Hot, usually drier conditions; full sun; well-drained soil |
| Propagation | Seed, cuttings, and air layering[2] |
| Fruit | Sweet berries about 15 mm across, ripening from red-black to blue-black[2] |
| Harvest | Flowers and fruits for much of the year in suitable warm conditions[2] |
Carissa spinarum, commonly called conkerberry or bush plum, is a thorny evergreen fruiting shrub or small tree for hot climates. It combines tolerance of dry, sandy, or rocky sites with better growth in deep fertile soil, provided drainage remains good.[2]
Description[edit | edit source]
Carissa spinarum is a much-branched, spiny evergreen shrub or small tree about 1–5.5 m tall. It is associated with dry deciduous forest, coastal thickets, savanna woodland, and other warm tropical or subtropical habitats.[2]
The fruit is a small berry, about 15 mm across, changing from red-black to blue-black as it ripens. The plant's thorny habit should be considered when choosing a position near paths or harvesting access.[2]
Cultivation[edit | edit source]
Soil and water[edit | edit source]
In its natural range, Carissa spinarum occurs in dry deciduous forest, coastal thickets, savanna woodland, thickets, forests, and disturbed sites, including termite mounds. A cultivation baseline is deep fertile, well-drained soil; the species account also records success in dry sandy or rocky soils. A preferred soil reaction is about pH 6.5–7.5, with a broader tolerance of roughly pH 6–8. Persistently wetter soil can encourage vegetative growth at the expense of fruit production.[3]
Sun and humidity[edit | edit source]
Hot, usually drier conditions and full sun are the most direct starting point for cultivation. Place the plant where the canopy receives strong light and excess water can drain away rather than collecting around the roots.[3]
Seasonal changes[edit | edit source]
The species account describes flowering and fruiting for much of the year rather than restricting production to one short season. It gives preferred daytime temperatures of about 20–35 °C and preferred annual rainfall of about 900–1,300 mm. In wetter periods, protect the root zone from prolonged saturation because fruit production may decline in wet soil; in warm dry periods, maintain the measured watering needed to keep growth active.[3]
Propagation[edit | edit source]
Seed and cuttings are described as easy methods for this species, and air layering is also listed. Choose seed when genetic variation is useful, or use a cutting or layer when a clonal plant is wanted.[3]
Flowering, fruiting, and harvest[edit | edit source]
Carissa spinarum can flower and fruit for much of the year in suitable warm conditions. Harvest berries after they have reached the ripe blue-black stage rather than treating earlier red-black fruit as ready.[2]
Fruit and uses[edit | edit source]
The ripe berries are described as sweet and suitable for eating raw or cooking. Only fully ripe fruit should be treated as edible: unripe fruit and the milky sap are described as poisonous, so unripe berries and sap should not be tasted or used as food.[4]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ [4] Carissa spinarum.
Image credits[edit | edit source]
- Carissa spinarum near Hyderabad W IMG 7615.jpg — J.M.Garg, Wikimedia Commons file page, CC BY 3.0. The image shows Carissa spinarum at Deer Park, Shamirpet, Rangareddy district, Andhra Pradesh, India.
