Carissa bispinosa aka Hedgethorn

Carissa bispinosa is an evergreen shrub in the Apocynaceae family. Its common names include hedge thorn and amatungulu. Kew places its native range from southeastern Kenya to southern Africa. It grows in a region with a seasonal dry spell. Wild plants occur along woodland edges and on coastal dunes. They also grow on termite mounds in Brachystegia woodland. The species grows wild and in gardens. The RHS lists Carissa acuminata and Carissa arduina as synonyms.

This woody plant can form a shrub or small tree. Kew also describes a scrambling growth form. Useful Tropical Plants lists a height of about 10 feet [3 metres]. Its fuller account gives an upper height of 26 feet [8 metres]. These figures show a broad size range, rather than a firm garden limit. The plant keeps its leaves throughout the year and bears sharp spines. The supplied accounts give no details about bark or leaf shape. They also give no mature spread.

The flowers have a scent, but the accounts give no flowering season. The fruit has an oval shape and holds few seeds. It reaches about 0.1 feet [0.03 metres] across, roughly the size of a cherry. Useful Tropical Plants describes ripe fruit as dark purple to black. People gather the fruit from wild plants and eat it raw. The source lists no known hazards, but gives no detailed safety assessment. This does not establish that every plant part is safe to eat. It reports no known medicinal uses.

In gardens, hedge thorn suits tropical and subtropical climates. Give it full sun or a site with light shade. It prefers fertile soil that holds some moisture but drains well. This combines a steady moisture supply with drainage around the roots. The supplied sources give no frost limit or hardiness zone. They also provide no named pest or disease problems. Their silence does not establish resistance to either.

Gardeners grow this spiny evergreen as a hedge. Its thorny growth and lasting foliage suit that use. The scented flowers and edible fruit add further garden interest. Fresh seed offers one way to raise new plants. Seed can also remain usable after some storage. Another method uses half-ripe cuttings with a heel attached.