PlantFiles: Hottentot Fig, Cape Fig, Fig Marigold, Highway Iceplant
Carpobrotus edulis

Fast-growing, drought-tolerant, mat-forming groundcover. Very easy to start from cuttings, very common locally in public and private areas.

Two problems with this plant. The first is that it's an aggressive grower in the garden and not good at sharing space with other plants, above OR below ground. The second is that it's prone to escape, and has the potential to outcompete native plants in many areas (including coastal California and Baja California). At least one purple-flowered Carpobrotus species shares the same features.

There are many better options for succulent groundcovers, depending on your needs. Don't plant a Carpobrotus unless you're prepared to cut it back regularly. And don't toss your cuttings by the side of the road, because they'll get started growing there too.

There seems to be some confusion in regards to the ID of this plant. While many sources show magenta-pink flowers, the real C. edulis has yellow flowers aging to light pink. The bright magenta-pink species is C. acinaciformis.

A nice plant, with vivid pink flowers, however it does become a problem when left to it's own devices. Spreads very quickly, and the only thing that is stopping it from escaping into the wild is the lack of cultivation around here.

The specimens that are grown on our peninsula are pretty much out of control.

One of the top invasive plants of Big Sur and coastal Monterey county where there are some efforts to minimize its presence especially in the sand dunes before it totally eradicates native plants.

It spreads by rooting at each node that touches ground forming huge mats that squeeze out natives that cannot compete for sun, space and water. This was planted widely for soil stabilization but sadly has taken over some areas totally not allowing other plant life to live. It is highly decorative, turning red with stress and can cover itself with flowers in spring into summer.

This plant has very beautiful flowers. Unfortunately is a pernicious weed in most warmer parts of the world.
It doesent survive here in the south outside in the winter. But does grow in the English south on the Cornish coast.
It has been used to stabilise sand dunes etc. In California, where I have seen it on rough land off the road side near beaches.
It is a messy sprawling plant. No attempt appears to have been made to breed a tighter form. Which is a pity as it has very marketable flowers. This plant also occurs in Australia where a more stunted form has evolved. There is even an indeigenous relative which is called something like 'Saurocolon'.

The long trailing stems of this plant will root in contact with the soil. This probably helps in it's ability to survive and aids in it's charactistic of being able to prevent erosion.

The fruits are green, maturing to yellow , plump, flat at the top with several chambers.

Flowers are borne on short stalks, unlike the nearly stalkless flowers of the closely related C. chilensis...Sea Fig. It will also hybridize with C. chilensis.

THis IS the ice plant you see all along the freeways in Southern California. Very drought tolerant, but appreciates water in the hot months (I see sprinklers on this stuff all year round- probably not the best use of water in our drought ridden state)

This looks like the "ice plant" that is planted along the L.A. freeways. Is it?

Perennial succulent from South Africa which has naturalised on the coasts of Southern and Western Europe including the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

Has triangular, fleshy, grey-green leaves tapering at the end and slightly curved, borne on woody prostrate stems. Bears daisy-like (almost dandelion-like) yellow flowers up to 5 inches across that open up after noon and turn pinkish later in the day. It has an indefinite spread and can therefore be invasive.

Flowers June to August.

It produces a fig like brown fruit which is edible and can be used as a preserve, the leaves are also edible and taste a little like a pickled cucumber.

Requires sharply drained soils and like to inhabit rocky places like cliffs. They have a use in binding sandy soils. They require weekly watering during the summer and a once yearly feed. Bring under shelter in frost prone areas.