Natal Plum — (c) Tony Rebelo, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Tony Rebelo
Photo by (c) Tony Rebelo, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Tony RebeloiNaturalistCC BY-SA
dog safety reference

Is Natal Plum safe for dogs?

Carissa macrocarpa

The Natal Plum is a popular evergreen shrub known for its glossy, dark green foliage and fragrant white flowers. While generally considered safe for pets, it is a woody plant and ingestion of large amounts of fibrous material may cause minor digestive discomfort.

Carissa grandifloraCarissa macrocarpaLarge Num-NumNatal Plum
Light
Bright direct light
Habit
Shrub
Care
Moderate

Safety status

Dogs

Generally safe

Consulted references do not classify the plant as toxic for that pet type, while still allowing for mild GI upset if large amounts are chewed.

Verified against ASPCA/provenance audit 2026-05-06 on May 6, 2026.

What this means for your dog

Safe for dogs — the ASPCA lists Natal Plum (under the synonym Carissa grandiflora) as non-toxic to dogs, with no toxic principle and no clinical signs on record.

Sources: ASPCA.

If a pet has chewed or swallowed plant material and is showing symptoms, contact a veterinarian or poison resource immediately. This product is for structured reference, not diagnosis.

Dogsconcern notes

Common signs

No specific toxicity symptoms are expected, though chewing or swallowing plant material may still cause mild stomach upset.

Escalation note

This plant is listed by ASPCA as non-toxic for this pet. Monitor for digestive upset after large ingestion and contact a veterinarian if symptoms persist.

Source evidence

ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants List

toxicology · 99% reliability

Open source

Natal Plum is listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs.

Plants of the World Online (Kew)

botanical · 95% reliability

Open source

Accepted botanical name Carissa macrocarpa (Eckl.) A.DC.

Cats & dogs pagecats page

Same dog verdict

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