Krohn Conservatory Bonsai #1 - Natal Plum
Scientific Name:
- carissa grandiflora
Species
- Natal Plum
Type of Tree
Bonsai Style:
Bonsai Tree Size:
This Natal Plum was donated by longtime Bonsai Society Member Dr. Aaron Perlman in 1996.
It is a mother/daughter composition in an informal upright style.
The pot is oval, brown in color, unglazed and 5 inches deep.
This small evergreen shrub from South Africa can be found on sand dunes and on the edges of coastal forests in the Eastern Cape and northwards to Natal and Mozambique. In South Africa, it is commonly known as the Natal plum or the large num-num.
Today the plant also grows commonly in southern Florida, and is cultivated in southern California and used widely as an ornamental in Central America and the Caribbean.
A traditional food plant in Africa, this little-known fruit has the potential to improve nutrition, boost food security, foster rural development, and support sustainable land care.
Q. What do “circa” and “in training” mean?
A. The circa date is roughly the year when the tree sprouted from its seed. The in training date is the year that it started being “trained” as a bonsai, which is to direct the growth of the tree usually by bending, pruning, and wiring its branches into a desired direction or shape.
It can be susceptible to mealy bugs and aphids. Treat with horticultural oil or malathion.