Carissa Macrocarpa "Green Carpet Carissa" 4Liter

Botanical Name: Carissa macrocarpa ‘Green Carpet’

Common Names: Green Carpet Natal Plum, Dwarf Natal Plum, Green Carpet Carissa

📌 Product Description

Carissa macrocarpa ‘Green Carpet’ is a compact, evergreen groundcover shrub valued for its dense growth habit and glossy dark green foliage. This low-growing cultivar of the Natal Plum forms a thick, spreading carpet that is ideal for covering large areas while remaining neat and manageable.

In warm seasons, it produces attractive white star-shaped flowers with a sweet fragrance, followed by small red fruits that add ornamental interest. As an indigenous South African plant, it is well adapted to local conditions and performs exceptionally well in coastal and water-wise gardens.

Its tough nature and dense foliage make it an excellent low-maintenance groundcover for modern landscapes.

📏 Size When Fully Grown

Height: 30 – 50 cm
Spread: 1 – 1.5 m
Growth Habit: Dense, spreading evergreen groundcover
Growth Rate: Moderate

🌱 Best Growing Conditions

Light: Full sun to light partial shade
Soil: Well-draining soil; tolerant of sandy and coastal soils
Water:

• Water regularly during establishment
• Drought tolerant once established
• Avoid prolonged waterlogged soil

Feeding: Apply compost or a balanced slow-release fertiliser in spring to encourage healthy growth.

Maintenance:

• Very low maintenance
• Light trimming can maintain neat edges
• Wear gloves when handling due to small thorns

🌦️ Planting & Growing Season (South Africa)

Best Planting Time: Spring or early autumn
Active Growth: Spring and summer
Flowering Season: Spring and summer
Climate Suitability: Ideal for coastal, subtropical, and warm inland regions of South Africa
Frost Tolerance: Tolerates light frost once established
Wind Tolerance: Excellent coastal wind tolerance

🌼 Additional Benefits

• Indigenous South African plant
• Dense weed-suppressing groundcover
• Drought tolerant once established
• Coastal and wind tolerant
• Attractive fragrant flowers

🌿 Ideal Uses

✔ Groundcover for large areas
✔ Coastal gardens
✔ Slopes and embankments
✔ Border edging
✔ Water-wise landscapes