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Carissa macrocarpa (Eckl.) A.DC.
Natal-plum

Carissa macrocarpa
Copyright by: Shirley Denton

Family: Apocynaceae

Group: Dicot

Substrate: Terrestrial

Habit: Shrub

Perennation: Perennial

Native Range: Southern Africa; widely cultivated and sometimes naturalized.

Map of select IRC data for peninsular Florida

SOUTH FLORIDA Occurrence: Present

SOUTH FLORIDA Native Status: Not Native, Naturalized

South Florida History and Distribution: IRC considers this an emerging invasive in South Florida.

SOUTH FLORIDA Cultivated Status: Cultivated

Comments: For more images, click on the USDA PLANTS and Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants links below.

Other data on Carissa macrocarpa available from :

Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants
Carissa macrocarpa has been found in the following 24 conservation areas :
Occurrence Native Status
Atlantic Dunes Park Present Not Native, Naturalized
Cayo Costa State Park Present Not Native, Cultivated Only
Deering Estate at Cutler Present Not Native, Cultivated Only
Delray Beach Municipal Beach Present Not Native, Naturalized
Dupuis Reserve Present Not Native, Cultivated Only
Everglades National Park Possibly Extirpated Not Native, Cultivated Only
Greynolds Park Present Not Native, Cultivated Only
Gulfstream Park Present Not Native, Cultivated Only
Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge Present Not Native, Cultivated Only
Hugh Taylor Birch State Park Present Not Native, Cultivated Only
Juno Dunes Natural Area Present Not Native, Cultivated Only
Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area Reported
Koreshan State Historic Site Present Not Native, Cultivated Only
Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park Presumed Extirpated Not Native, Cultivated Only
Long Key State Park Present Not Native, Cultivated Only
National Key Deer Refuge Present Not Native, Naturalized
Phipps Ocean Park Present Not Native, Naturalized
Pine Island Ridge Natural Area Present Not Native, Cultivated Only
Red Reef Park, including Gumbo Limbo Nature Center Present Not Native, Naturalized
Rocky Point Hammock Present Not Native, Cultivated Only
Savannas Preserve State Park Present Not Native, Naturalized
Silver Palm Groves Present Not Native, Cultivated Only
Snake Creek Hammocks, Florida Keys Wildlife and Environmental Area Present Not Native, Cultivated Only
Twin Rivers Present Not Native, Cultivated Only

Carissa macrocarpa has been found in the following 3 counties :
Occurrence Native Status
Lee County Not Native, Naturalized
Miami-Dade County Not Native, Naturalized
Monroe County (Keys) Not Native, Naturalized

Carissa macrocarpa has been found in the following habitat :
Disturbed Upland

All Images:

Carissa macrocarpa
Copyright by: Shirley Denton
Carissa macrocarpa
Copyright by: Michelle Smith, 2023.
Carissa macrocarpa
Copyright by: Dr. James Wetterer via iNaturalist.