Natal plum

noun

1. a southern African bushy shrub, Carissa grandiflora, of the dogbane family, having forked spines, white flowers, and egg-shaped, red berries.
2. the fruit of this shrub.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Natal plum¹

First recorded in 1855–60

Example Sentences

In northern Florida that could include the silvery pineapple guava shrub, while in the south an evergreen called natal plum can be kept trimmed low serve as groundcover.

From Scientific American

Under the heading of semi-tropical fruits, all kinds of citrus fruits, persimmons, loquats, date palm, wine palm, pecan nut, Brazilian cherry, Natal plum, ki-apple, and many other fruits are included, as well as several fruits that more properly belong to the temperate regions, such as Japanese plums, Chickasaw plum, peaches of Chinese origin, figs, mulberries of sorts, strawberries, cape gooseberries, &c.

From Project Gutenberg