Carissa macrocarpa

Carissa macrocarpa is a shrub native to Southern Africa. It is commonly known as the Natal plum and, in South Africa, the large num-num. In Zulu, as well as in the Bantu tribes of Uganda, it is called Amathungulu or umThungulu oBomvu. In Afrikaans the fruit is called noem-noem.

C. macrocarpa deals well with salt-laden winds, making it a good choice for coastal areas. It is commonly found in the coastal bush of the Eastern Cape and Natal. It has shiny, dark green leaves and white flowers that emit a strong perfume at night. Like other Carissa species, C. macrocarpa is a spiny, evergreen shrub containing latex. They can bloom for up to six months. The ornamental plump, round, crimson fruit appears in summer and fall (autumn) at the same time as the blooms. The fruits are available throughout the year in moderately coastal areas. The fruit can be eaten out of hand or made into pies, jams, jellies, and sauces. Some claim that other than the fruit, the plant is poisonous. However, this claim is a myth, possibly based on similarities to other plants with milky sap. The College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at
University of California, Davis rates the plant as mildly toxic.
It appears in the South African National tree list as number 640.3.

A traditional food plant in Africa, this little-known fruit has potential to improve nutrition, boost food security, foster rural development and support sustainable landcare.

Distribution

Carissa macrocarpa grows mainly in coastal areas in South Africa. It is found in the Eastern Cape Province, northwards of Natal to Mozambique, Zair and Kenya. Today the plant is also growing commonly in southern Florida and is cultivated in southern California and used widely as an ornamental in Central America and the Caribbean.