Egyptian Carissa

Carissa spinarum

Native to:
Aldabra, Andaman Is., Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Botswana, Burkina, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Caprivi Strip, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Comoros, Congo, Djibouti, DR Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, India, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Laos, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicobar Is., Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Réunion, Rodrigues, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Socotra, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan-South Sudan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Uganda, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

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Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Apocynaceae
Genus:
Carissa
Species:
Carissa spinarum
USDA Symbol:
CAED8

Growth Characteristics

Height:
300 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
High
Bloom Months:
apr,may,jun,jul,aug
Bloom Colors:
white
Evergreen Shrub:
Yes
Landscaping Shrub:
Yes

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
birds, butterflies
Deer Resistant:
Yes
Fragrant:
Yes

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
well-drained sandy or loamy soil
pH:
5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
dry to moderate
Notes:
tolerates drought conditions

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
None required
Germination Time:
14–45 days
Notes:
Fresh seed germinates best. Remove fleshy fruit pulp before sowing as it may inhibit germination.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI