Ice Plant
Carpobrotus edulis
Also listed as Mesembryanthemum edule
Also known as Pigface, Sour Fig, Hottentot Fig
Climate Match for your location
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Sea fig is a succulent groundcover with fleshy, finger-like leaves and bright magenta or yellow daisy-like flowers. Highly drought-tolerant and salt-resistant, it spreads vigorously and is excellent for coastal landscapes and erosion control.
Why grow it
Sea fig outperforms many coastal groundcovers in extreme salt spray and nutrient-poor sandy soils, requiring minimal supplemental water once established. Compared to native alternatives in temperate coastal regions, it flowers prolifically and provides faster ground coverage, making it useful where erosion control is needed quickly. Its fleshy leaves tolerate foot traffic better than many fine-textured groundcovers, though growth rates and flowering intensity vary with local climate and soil depth.
Watch out for
Plants may thin or decline if irrigation is withheld entirely during extended drought in areas with summer rainfall patterns, so occasional deep watering during dry spells improves longevity. In mild climates, dense plantings can retain excess moisture and may develop fungal issues if air circulation is poor. Flowering may be sparse in heavily shaded locations or in soils with excess nitrogen.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Aizoaceae
Native Range
South Africa
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
Sea fig is a succulent groundcover with fleshy, finger-like leaves and bright magenta or yellow daisy-like flowers. Highly drought-tolerant and salt-resistant, it spreads vigorously and is excellent for coastal landscapes and erosion control.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Ice Plant grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Sea fig outperforms many coastal groundcovers in extreme salt spray and nutrient-poor sandy soils, requiring minimal supplemental water once established. Compared to native alternatives in temperate coastal regions, it flowers prolifically and provides faster ground coverage, making it useful where erosion control is needed quickly. Its fleshy leaves tolerate foot traffic better than many fine-textured groundcovers, though growth rates and flowering intensity vary with local climate and soil depth.
Watch out for
Plants may thin or decline if irrigation is withheld entirely during extended drought in areas with summer rainfall patterns, so occasional deep watering during dry spells improves longevity. In mild climates, dense plantings can retain excess moisture and may develop fungal issues if air circulation is poor. Flowering may be sparse in heavily shaded locations or in soils with excess nitrogen.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Aizoaceae
Native Range
South Africa
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
Similar ground covers you might consider:
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