Carissa haematocarpa
The Karoo Num-num is an evergreen, multi-stemmed and densely branched shrub or small tree growing up to 2m high, covered by multitudes of pronged spines that may be up to 4-5cm long, growing in the Little and Great Karoo and along the lower reaches of the Orange River and its tributaries. The tiny flowers, borne in Spring and Summer, are carried in clusters at the end of the branches. The fruit are similarly tiny – about 5mm in diameter – and are purple to black when ripe (while edible, they will stain your teeth the same colour!).
The Karoo Num-num is used as a fodder plant by game and livestock, especially during periods of drought. Though a slow grower, the plant is a good addition to a water-wise garden due to its drought resistance, and it attracts birds and beneficial insects like bees and butterflies.
Some authorities consider the Karoo Num-num to be the same species as the Forest Num-num, which we’ll be showcasing in the next post on DeWetsWild.
DeWetsWild 
Ek weet nie of ek wil hê my tande moet pers of swart wees nie 😄.
Is maar dieselfde effek as moerbeie! En ek dink hierdie in lekkerder as moerbeie!
O, nee maar in daardie geval sal ek glad nie omgee nie … moerbeie is dan so lekker!
I must look through my photographs for I feel sure I have seen these growing in Addo without having identified them 🙂
That’s where these photographs are from, Anne!
Oh, thank you. Then I know that is the right place to look for my pictures 🙂 🙂
Pretty. Drought resistant would be good for us. 😉
Same here, Janet. Water-wise gardens really are the way to go.
Die karoo plantegroei is vir my baie interessant omdat dit goed droogtebestand is. Dis natuurlik ook baie voedsaam vir diere.
Net nog n voorbeeld van hoe wonderlik ons inheemse natuurlewe aangepas is!
Beslis ja.