Overview
Natal Plum Bonsai (Carissa macrocarpa) is a thorny evergreen shrub with glossy leaves, fragrant white flowers and red plum-like fruit. It is best suited to flowering and fruiting bonsai, informal upright and coastal-style designs. For UK growers, treat it as: Indoor or frost-free greenhouse in the UK.
Placement
bright sun and warmth
Watering
water when the upper soil begins to dry; avoid waterlogging
Feeding and fertilising
feed during active growth
Pruning and wiring
clip after growth flushes; wire carefully around thorns
Repotting
repot every 2-3 years in spring/summer warmth
Propagation
cuttings or seed
Pests, diseases and common issues
scale, spider mites, leaf drop from cold and root rot from wet soil