Fruit Trees >
Tropical Fruit Trees >
Natal Plum
An ornamental shrub with large white star shaped fragrant flowers. The large edible plum has a soft pinkish flesh. Fruits are delicious eaten whole including their skin and seeds. The flesh is a sweet cranberry flavour and can be used fresh in desserts, ice cream, yogurt, cakes and sauces. Fruits preserve well as jams, jelly's and chutneys and can be frozen, dried or bottled. With its sharp thorns this shrub makes an effective and almost impenetrable hedge. It also makes a beautiful bonsai specimen. Trees are tolerant of salt and wind and do not have invasive root systems.
| Height | Frost tol. | Pollination req'd | Evergreen/Deciduous | Harvest period |
| 2-3 | Medium | Yes | Evergreen | February - April |
We welcome your Tips on Natal Plum. Share Your Tip.
A favourite in it's native South Africa where this dense shrub is used as a hedge to keep out the unwanted. It has vicious thorns! Fruit is tangy. Makes great jams and sauces. Bullet proof when established. Pretty little flowers smell like gardenias. | David White - Sydney/west Ryde, NSW 30-Oct-2009
This plant is certainly ornamental and the spines ensure it makes a good hedge. Unfortunately, I have never had fruit on my plants (now 3 y.o.) but I did read that hand pollination may be the key. | Martin W - Keperra, QLD 10-Dec-2010
I found this plant growing in the Adelaide Botanical Gardens and it was in fruit in September. Ones I found on the ground fell into my mouth and turned out to be the most delicious flavour. They grow well there but seem to do best in filtered light. | Peter Marsh - Littlehampton, SOUTH AUSTRALIA 25-Sep-2011
I have several of these plants growing in my garden. This is the first year we have had fruit. They are tough little plants and the fruit is delicious | Merv Bernie - Gayndah, QLD 07-Jan-2012
Updated: 7th of May, 2009 at 3:17pm © Disclaimer/Privacy/Copyright