English (United Kingdom) 
Russian (Russia) Carissa
Family. Apocynaceae.
Origin. South Africa.
Description. A small genus of "Carissa" contains about 20-30 species of slow-growing evergreen shrubs or small trees. The stems are abundantly covered with leaves, becoming woody with age, with sharp thorns up to 5 cm long appearing in the leaf axils. The opposite, hard leaves are dark green, glossy, leathery, wide, ovoid or round, 2.5-5 cm long. The flowers are attractive, white, fragrant, with 5 petals, up to 5 cm in diameter, single or in small apical inflorescences of 3-5, and can appear throughout the year. The aroma of the flowers intensifies at night. After flowering, spherical or oblong, fleshy fruits up to 4 cm in diameter are formed, green, becoming dark crimson when ripe. Variegated varieties of Carissa variegata have very attractive tricolor leaves with stripes of light green and cream along the edges of the leaf blades. The plant can produce flowers, buds and ripe berries at the same time.
Height. In nature from 2 to 10 m, in indoor culture it is pruned.
Caring at home
Soil
Carissa grows well in well-drained, loose soil, even poor in nutrients. Soil with a highly alkaline pH slows down the absorption of nutrients by the plant.
Reproduction
Seeds sown in spring. Germination time is about 2 weeks, but seedlings grow very slowly. Pots with seedlings are placed in a warm place with a temperature of at least 20° C. Young plants bloom at the age of 2 years. Vegetative propagation is more preferable and is carried out using air layering. Cuttings take root rather poorly and over a long period of time - up to 2 months. Vaccinations.
Care, pruning
Prune long shoots in early spring, before flower buds appear, to keep the bush compact. Without pruning, even dwarf varieties can grow up to 1.5 m in height. Remove broken, damaged shoots.
When it blooms
Flowering time is spring-summer.
Containment temperature
Can be found all year round in rooms with a temperature of about 20° C. Tolerates short frosts down to -4 º C.
Lighting
Well-lit location with shade on hot summer days.
Fertilization
Balanced liquid fertilizers from spring to autumn 2 times a month. During winter, feed monthly. An excess of fertilizers has a negative effect on flowering - it will be less abundant.
Spraying
No special requirements. If the air becomes too dry, spray the leaves.
Watering
Mature carissas tolerate short periods of drought. Water regularly in spring and summer, but allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings.
Transplant
The bush needs to be replanted approximately every 2–3 years, in the spring.
Pests and diseases
Diseases include leaf spots and root rot.
Insect pests - spider mites, thrips and whiteflies, scale insects, and sometimes mealybugs.
Purpose
Carissa can be grown as a bonsai and as a ground cover.
Note
All parts of the plant are poisonous - keep it away from children and pets. Carissa fruits are edible when fully ripe - the berries acquire a dark red hue and become slightly soft to the touch. They are eaten fresh or used to make fruit salads, cakes and ice cream.
Varieties:
Carissa macrocarpa
In its natural habitat, the plant is a dense shrub with a rounded crown formed by abundantly branching shoots. The shrubs reach a height of 4.5 - 5.5 m. The leaves are dark green, glossy, oblong-oval, entire, on short petioles, arranged in opposite pairs. The flowers are attractive, white, appear in small inflorescences at the tops of the shoots and have a pleasant sweetish aroma. After flowering, the plant produces round or slightly oblong fruits, which become bright red when ripe.
