Nana

'Nana' is the smallest of the standard natal plum clones and one of only two thornless selections in general cultivation, the other being 'Boxwood Beauty'. It is documented in the classic accounts of the crop as a thornless dwarf whose flowers carry spirally overlapping petals, a subtle floral distinction from the flat five-lobed star of the species. It rarely exceeds a foot and a half in any direction, forming a tight cushion of thick, leathery, dark green leaves, which makes it the natal plum of choice for containers, indoor culture in bright light, low edging and bonsai. It still flowers over a long season and sets scarlet cranberry-flavoured fruit, so even at this scale it remains an edible plant. It is closely allied to, and often listed alongside, the similar dwarf 'Minima' and the related 'Nana Compacta'.