Carissa bispinosa grows as a shrub or small tree up to 5 metres (16 ft) tall. Its fragrant flowers feature a white corolla. Fruit is red when ripe. Habitat is woodland and forest from 1,080 metres (3,540 ft) to 1,630 metres (5,350 ft) altitude. Vernacular names for the plant include "forest num-num" and "Y-thorned carissa". C. bispinosa is native to Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland and South Africa.