Re: Carissa Macrocarpa

At 10:10 PM 3/1/99 -0800, ccopp@jps.net wrote:
>I have liked the Natal Plum, Carissa macrocarpa, for a long time now, and
>have finally found a place for it in my garden.  I love the fragrance of
>the flowers, which is why I want to grow this shrub.  I have seen it
>growing very well in San Diego and Riverside, but not so well in Oakland,
>where I live.  Why should that stop me??  I will accept advice, however,
>from this esteemed group before investing real money.
>
>My plans are to put it (them?) next to the house, where it will get a
>little more heat.  It's a western exposure, although a fence and a tree
>create some shady times in the morning.  
>
>Sunset says its "rightful climates" are 22-24 which is along the San Diego
>coast and inland.  I also recall postings a few years ago when someone
>described eating the fruits as a child somewhere in Africa.  I haven't seen
>it fruit here, but that's OK.  
>
>Any advice?

Hi Carol - 

These plants are fairly rare here in the Bay Area, but I have seen some
very nice plantings growing for a long time.  They do perfer heat and some
humidity, and in a suitable setting, are very tough and persistent.  But
if you don't satisfy their needs, there is nothing you can do to keep them
going.  To my mind, the best site seems to be sunny but protected from
drying wind, adjacent to warm walls or pavements to generate the ambient
heat it loves, good drainage and 'warm soil'.  This last bit can be created
in a raised bed, placing the plant against a warm stone or concrete wall,
rather than an open bed.  Paving that receives sun also helps generate some
heat at the roots and for the plant to grow over.  Wet soil in winter can
be damaging mostly because of 'cold feet' in my opinion - this plant can
tolerate clay but not sodden clay.  Some of the best plants I ever saw
were growing in a narrow strip of poor soil in a parking lot in Southern
California, all blooming happily and fruiting heavily, in spite of being
occasionally 'pruned' by motorists and pedestrians!  The plants are very
stiff and have thorns, so place carefully.  There are various forms, most
selected to be more compact, with tiny leaves, but a large growing
specimen is a sight to behold!  Fruiting is much better with more than
one clone in close proximity.  There is an old grouping of these up on
the UC Berkeley campus, east of the Psychology building in a round, raised
planter in the middle of the paved entrance to the building.  I haven't
been by since this past cold winter, but I bet they're still doing well
(they've survuved worse winters apparently).

For those of you unfamiliar with this handsome plant, here is some more
information about this species (including photos):
http://www.plantadviser.com/plants/carimacr.htm
and a good photo (but very large):
http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/carr/images/car_gra.jpg

The California Rare Fruit growers suggest this reading:
- Growing Rare Fruit in Northern Calif. By John M. Riley. 1973 YB, pp 67-90 
- Rare Fruits for the Watersaving Garden. By Alice Ramirez. 1988 J, pp 39-44 
- The Carissa in California. By Paul H. Thomson. 1976 YB, pp 73-81 
- What? a Rare Fruit Gal in a Mobile Home Space? Yes! By Cay Hillegas.
    1983 #4, pp 21-23
 
 Sean A. O'Hara                       sean.ohara@poboxes.com
 h o r t u l u s   a p t u s          710 Jean Street
 'a garden suited to its purpose'     Oakland, CA 94610-1459, U.S.A.
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