Carpobrotus edulis
sea fig
Overview
Carpobrotus edulis is a trailing succulent groundcover with creeping stems reaching 6-10 feet (1.8-3 m) long that root at the nodes and mat together into dense layers 6-18 inches (15-45 cm) deep. Leaves are fleshy, three-sided in cross section, 2-5 inches (5-13 cm) long and about 0.4-0.5 inch (10-13 mm) thick, green to grey-green, turning red under drought or cold. Flowers open one at a time along the stems, 2.5-4 inches (6-10 cm) across, with many narrow petal-like segments in yellow aging to pale pink, or pink to magenta depending on the population. Each flower opens in sunlight and closes at night over several days. The fruit is a fleshy, fig-shaped capsule about 1 inch (2.5 cm) long that stays on the stem and is edible when ripe. Flowering peaks in spring. The dense mats build up over time and stem fragments root readily, allowing rapid spread that excludes low-growing plants.
Native Range
Native to coastal South Africa, particularly the Cape region, on dunes and rocky shores. Widely naturalized on coasts in California, the Mediterranean, Australia, and other mild maritime regions, where it is listed as invasive in several areas.Suggested Uses
Planted for erosion control on sandy banks, road cuts, and coastal slopes, and as a drought-tolerant groundcover in frost-free regions, spaced 18-24 inches (45-60 cm) apart. Its spreading habit limits use near native plant communities, where it displaces local vegetation.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height6" - 1'6"
Width/Spread6' - 10'
Bloom Information
Flowers mainly in spring, from March to June in the Northern Hemisphere, with scattered bloom at other times in frost-free coastal climates. Individual flowers last several days, opening by day and closing at night. The main flush lasts 6-10 weeks.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
yellow to pinkFoliage Description
green to grey-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grows in full sun on sandy, rocky, or poor soils with sharp drainage and tolerates salt spray and wind. It needs little or no irrigation once established and stores water in the leaves through long dry spells. Frost below 25 F (-4 C) blackens the foliage, though mats often regrow from rooted stems. Roots rot in heavy, wet soil. The dense growth and rooting stems spread beyond the planted area and smother low vegetation, which has led to control programs on many coastlines.Pruning
Cut back trailing stems during the growing season to contain spread. Removing rooted stem sections by hand is the usual way to reduce the mat. Cut pieces left on the ground can re-root, so they are taken away rather than left in place.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
springsummer
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 2 gallons