Carissa, Natal Plum 'Tomlinson'

I was walking around my college campus, and I smelled a very sweet smelling fragrance, and found this plant.

I took one of...Read More the Fruits, and brought it home, cut it open and took the seeds.

Should I dry them first? and then put them into a ziploc bag? I'd appreciate some help.

I just love this plant!! Every part of it is interesting. The leaves are beautiful; shiny dark green, evergreen, and have a neat shape. T...Read Morehe small white flowers smell heavenly!! Reminds me a bit of gardenia or plumeria. I have not yet tried the fruit; right now they have just turned red, and I am waiting for them to ripen a bit more before picking them.

The plant I purchased is from Monrovia; the tag says it is a dwarf variety and is thornless. I have seen that it is not completely thornless, but only has a few small thorns. The fruit starts green and turns red as it matures.

I have a Natal Plum grown from seed planted about five years ago. I got the seed from a plum that I ate! The plant is now about 5 feet ta...Read Morell. I have eaten many natal plums -- they have a sticky white glue-like juice, but the flavor is very good. I have many fruits on the plant now (June 4. 2009), some just starting to turn red. I trim many of the thorns to allow me access to the fruit without injury! I plan to try to harvest and dry the fruit when they mature. I'll report success - or failure!

I agree that this is the dwarf variety and VERY long thorns beneath the leaves. Flowers are fragrant and plant spreads nicely. Does not...Read More reseed or send out suckers, etc. Beautiful evergreen. This variety does not set fruit. In my zone 9, it will withstand winters around 30 degrees up to 115 degrees or so. Blooms in summer and spring. I have 5 in my garden.