Carpobrotus chilensis
Ice Plant, Sea Fig
Description
Carpobrotus chilensis is an edible succulent with prostrate stems that bear glaucous leaves. The stems can carpet the ground and grow up to 6.6 feet long, rooting at the nodes. The leaves are rounded to triangular in cross-section and can measure up to 2.8 inches long and 0.5 inches wide. The rose-magenta flowers appear all year round and can reach up to 2 inches in diameter. They open in the morning and close at night. The fruits are green to yellowish, oval to sub-globose, and can grow up to 0.8 inches in diameter. Considered moderately invasive by the CA Invasive Plant Council. It now inhabits coastal scrub, grasslands, chaparral, bluffs, dunes and beaches, where it creates dense mats that increase soil organic matter over time, allowing new non-native species to invade.
Plant Type
Succulent
Height Range
Under 1'
Width Range
Flower Color
Purple, Red
Flower Season
Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall, Constant
Leaf Color
Light Green
Bark Color
n/a
Fruit Color
n/a
Fruit Season
n/a
Sun
Full, Half
Water
Low
Growth Rate
Moderate
Soil Type
Sandy, Loam, Rocky
Soil Condition
Average, Poor, Well-drained, Dry
Soil pH
Neutral, Basic
Adverse Factors
Invasive
Design Styles
Meadow, Mediterranean, Ranch, Seascape
Accenting Features
Showy Flowers
Seasonal Interest
Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
Location Uses
Lawn, Parking Strip, Parking Lot, Raised Planter, With Rocks
Special Uses
Container, Mass Planting
Attracts Wildlife
n/a
Water Saving Tip:
Check the soil's moisture level before watering.
You can reduce your water use 20-50% by regularly checking the soil before watering.