can you eat a natal plum

How do you eat Natal plums?

Natal plums can be eaten fresh out of hand or sliced and added to salads. Combine with herbs and Indian spices to make pickles. Cook down to make jams, sauces, soup, chutney and pie filling. Natal plums are native to Natal, South Africa, but can be found growing wild in California, Hawaii and Florida.

Are Natal plums poisonous?

Wild Natal plums first appear in the summer and can grow throughout the winter in warmer climates. The Natal plum (Carissa macrocarpa) is a member of the Dogbane or Apocynaceae family. A relative of the poisonous Oleander, the stems and leaves of the Natal plum are toxic and should never be consumed.

What does a Natal plum taste like?

The Natal plum has a sweet and sour flavor, while offering a juicy consistency. Its branches and leaves are vivid green in color with white flowers and numerous double pronged thorns, a good identifier when foraging for the Natal plum shrub. The taste of the Natal plum has also been compared to the tart flavor of the cranberry.

Can you eat the latex from plums?

Similarly to figs Natal plums contain an edible latex which is released when they are cooked, be sure not to use aluminum pans when cooking them as the latex will stick to the pan. Natal plums can be eaten fresh out of hand or sliced and added to salads.

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Are Natal plums safe to eat?

The Natal plum (Carissa macrocarpa) is a member of the Dogbane or Apocynaceae family. A relative of the poisonous Oleander, the stems and leaves of the Natal plum are toxic and should never be consumed. The fruit of the Natal plum shrub is the only edible part of the plant.

What is Natal plum good for?

These cyanidin derivatives are associated with health benefits such as anti-inflammatory, antiviral, anti-proliferation, and anti-carcinogenic effects [2]. Natal plum is also rich in vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus [3].

Are Carissa berries poisonous?

The fruit of the carissa is an oblong berry which contains numerous small seeds. The green fruit is poisonous, sometimes dangerously so. The ripe fruit are edible, but may be fairly tart, and they taste like a giant cranberry, though some species have fruity flavours with overtones of strawberry or apple.

Can you eat Natal plum seeds?

I eat them seeds and all and seem to be no worse for it. A ripe fruit is one that is plum red and slightly soft to the touch. No peeling is necessary. Halved or quartered and seeded, it is suitable for fruit salads, gelatins and as topping for cakes, puddings and ice cream.

How do you know when Natal plums are ripe?

0:321:38Natal plum is not a plum, it's poisonous unless fully ripe - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIf you open that up see there's like this white latex if you don't see the latex you don't have theMoreIf you open that up see there's like this white latex if you don't see the latex you don't have the right. Plan. It's good it's always scary to think that unripe it's poisonous.

Are plums ever poisonous?

Or is cyanide in fruit pits just a myth? The seeds (also known as stones, pits, or kernels) of stone fruits like apricots, cherries, plums, and peaches do contain a compound called amygdalin, which breaks down into hydrogen cyanide when ingested. And, yes, hydrogen cyanide is definitely a poison.

How do you make Natal plum fruit?

You can shape Natal plum into a tree form or hedge through pruning. Trimming will also prompt the shrub to produce more flowers and fruit. You may need to prune plants that are close to a sidewalk so that pedestrians do not get injured by the spines.

Can dogs eat Natal plum?

No, Natal plums are extremely dangerous to dogs. Most of its parts are highly poisonous, except for the fruit's flesh when fully ripe. This could be why the botanical name of the Natal plums' family (Apocynaceae) means “keep it away from the dog” in Greek.

Are plum leaves poisonous to humans?

Clinical Signs: Stems, leaves, seeds contain cyanide, particularly toxic in the process of wilting: brick red mucous membranes, dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, panting, shock.

How do you eat Carissa?

The fruit can be eaten off the bush or made into pies, jams, jellies, or even sauces. It is rich in Vitamin C, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus.

Is Natal plum poisonous to cats?

Contact us immediately if you suspect your pet may have eaten something poisonous....The toxicity of plants.Plant nameToxicityNatal plum2Nephthytis3Nerine2, 4Nightshade, Deadly1182 more rows

Is Natal plum invasive?

natal-plum: Carissa macrocarpa (Gentianales: Apocynaceae): Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States.

What Is A Carissa Shrub?

Natal plum, or large num-num as it is also known, is a thorny ornamental shrub from the Apocynaceae (dogbane) family.

Carissa Flowers

The natal plum bush produces lovely white flowers that have 5 petals and are mildly, but very pleasantly, scented like the blossoms of a citrus tree. These flowers can reach nearly 1 ½ inches (38mm) across and are produced throughout the year, but perform best in spring, and into the heat of mid-summer.

Other Carissa Species And Varieties

Carissa macrocarpa was formerly known as C. grandiflora, and might still be advertised or described as such in various publications and catalogs. Much work was done with these plants to develop better fruiting selections.

How To Grow Natal Plum

The best way to grow new natal plum plants is from seeds, which take about 2 weeks to germinate. The large flat seeds can be collected from ripe fruits and grown in trays in the fall or spring.

Care And Maintenance

These are moderate to fast-growing shrubs, depending on where they are grown. They have a naturally rounded form but take well to pruning. Dwarf forms can revert to the larger wild type if not pruned regularly.

Uses

The natal plum is a spiny shrub that makes a great security hedge or screen if planted at 3-6 foot (0.9-1.8m) spacing. There are smaller varieties that grow well in containers and this plant also makes a fantastic bonsai subject.

How to grow Natal Plum?

For best results, plant Natal plum in sandy soil that drains well, as this will help naturally deter root rot. If you have grown a specific variety and wish to have more plants, propagate them from cuttings to ensure all of the plants have the same characteristics.

What is a Natal plum?

Propagating. Pests and Diseases. Back to Top. The Natal plum is a beautiful tropical shrub grown mostly as a flowering landscape specimen, but also for its small fruits, which taste like cranberries and are used in jams and jellies.

What temperature does a plum plant need to be to survive?

The Natal plum thrives in temperatures that range above 68 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and between 50 and 65 degrees at night. They are quite sensitive to cold—young plants cannot tolerate temps below 30 degrees Fahrenheit, and established plants can be killed by temps below 25 degrees.

How long does it take for a Natal Plum to grow?

This shrub has a moderate to fast growth rate and is best planted (or transplanted) in fall or winter. It will take about two years for the shrub to mature enough to produce harvestable fruits. Botanical Name. Carissa macrocarpa. Common Name. Natal plum. Plant Type. Broadleaf evergreen shrub. Size.

How many petals does a plum flower have?

If you have smelled orange blossoms, you know what Natal plum flowers smell like. Each flower features five waxy petals arranged in a star shape. They are usually 1 to 3 inches long and are formed along the branch in an opposite arrangement .

How long do fig trees keep fruit?

They will persist in a ripened state on the tree for several days without spoiling. The fruit will store up to one week in the refrigerator and may be used in jams, jellies, pies, and preserves.

Can you grow plums in full sun?

Grow Natal plum in a location that receives full sun for the best results. It will also do fine in light shade but will likely not have as many flowers and fruits.