Natal plum is a thorny shrub native to the Natal region of South Africa that grows 15 feet tall and wide. It is hardy to warm climates (Florida and California in the United States) where the leaves are evergreen, and the fragrant white flowers are produced year around. A bonus is the fruit, which changes from green to magenta to dark crimson as it ripens; it is edible and although similar in color, not actually a plum. It is widely planted in Israel; in most areas it serves as a protective screen or hedge or a specimen plant in the border.