Carpobrotus deliciosus

Plant Profile & Key Characteristics

A vigorous evergreen creeping succulent (pig face / sourfig) forming mats about 5-20 cm (2-8 in) high and spreading widely. A drought- and salt-tolerant perennial groundcover with pink-purple flowers and edible fig-shaped fruit; it can be invasive.

Quick Specifications

Specification	Attribute
Plant Type / Life Cycle	Perennial
Foliage Type	Evergreen (succulent)
Mature Size	5-20 cm (2-8 in) tall, spreading widely
Growth Rate	Fast to moderate
Root System	Shallow, fibrous; roots at the stem nodes as it creeps
Toxicity	Non-toxic; fruit edible
Hardiness	USDA zone 8+

Growth Form & Structure

• Height & Spread: 5-20 cm (2-8 in) tall, spreading as far as allowed; also grown trailing from containers
• Growth Habit & Form: Prostrate, mat-forming succulent groundcover with fleshy 3-angled leaves; roots at the nodes
• Lifespan & Maturity: Fast-establishing perennial; bears fruit about 1 year from planting

Anatomy & Physical Features

• Leaves & Foliage: Fleshy, linear 3-angled green leaves
• Flower Characteristics: Large, daisy-like pink-purple many-petalled flowers
• Fruit Profile: Fleshy, fig-shaped green fruit; edible

Primary Uses & Landscape Value

• Edible Uses: Fruit eaten raw, in jams, pickles, cooked or dried
• Functional & Ornamental Roles: Drought- and salt-tolerant groundcover for banks, coastal and rockery planting and erosion control; spillover container plant. Can be invasive – site with care

Care Guide: Planting, Soil & Watering

Overview: A fast-spreading, mat-forming coastal succulent for full sun and sandy, very free-draining soil. Extremely drought- and salt-tolerant, it needs little water and can become invasive.

Quick Care Requirements

Requirement	Ideal Condition
Planting Season	Year-round (any time in mild, frost-free climates)
Growth Rate	Fast to moderate
Soil Type	Sandy and free-draining
Water Need	Low – very drought-tolerant

Planting & Establishment

• Best Planting Season: Plant at any time of year in frost-free, mild climates.
• How to Plant:
  • Hole Preparation: Dig a shallow hole for the small root mass, or simply lay and peg cuttings onto the soil.
  • Soil Amendments: Add coarse sand or grit if the soil is heavy; no rich feeding is needed.
  • Planting Depth: Set shallowly with the crown at soil level; stems root readily wherever they touch the ground.
• Growth Speed & Expectations: Fast to moderate, spreading widely as a dense, low groundcover.

Soil, Watering & Drainage Care

• Soil Mix & Drainage Needs: Sandy, free-draining soil; tolerates poor, saline, coastal ground. Grows in containers with a free-draining mix.
• Watering Schedule & Technique:
  • Young / Newly Planted: Light watering to establish.
  • Established: Water sparingly – it is highly drought-tolerant.
  • Seasonal Adjustments: Occasional water in prolonged heat; little to none otherwise.

Climate, Light & Hardiness

Carpobrotus deliciosus (sweet hottentot's fig) is a tough, mat-forming coastal succulent suited to desert, Mediterranean, subtropical, tropical, and temperate climates, grown in full sun. It is reliably cold-hardy to about USDA zone 8 and is prized for exceptional wind and salt tolerance along coastlines.

Quick Climate Specifications

Climate Zones	Desert, Mediterranean, subtropical, tropical, and temperate; especially well suited to coastal climates
USDA Hardiness Zones	Typically zone 8 and warmer
Frost Tolerance	Moderate
Light Conditions	Full Sun
Wind Tolerance	High
Salt / Coastal Tolerance	High

Sunlight & Light Exposure

Optimal Light Setup

Full sun is essential for dense mat growth and good flowering; it does not perform well in shade.

Direct Sun Requirement

Needs many hours of direct sun daily, including exposed, open sites with reflected heat.

Shade & Heat Management

Handles intense heat and sun exposure without special protection.

Best Exposure / Orientation

An open, fully sun-exposed site - including exposed coastal banks, dunes, and slopes - suits it better than a sheltered or shaded position.

Temperature Extremes & Hardiness

USDA Hardiness & Regional Limits

Hardy outdoors year-round in roughly USDA zone 8 and warmer. As a low, ground-hugging succulent it sheds cold air readily, but young plantings benefit from establishment through a full growing season before their first winter.

Cold Damage & Winter Protection

Well-drained, sandy soil reduces cold-wet stress in winter; little other protection is typically needed within its hardiness range.

Frost Sensitivity

Moderate frost tolerance for an evergreen succulent; foliage may show cosmetic damage from hard frost but established plantings generally recover.

Extreme Heat Tolerance

Excellent heat tolerance, well suited to hot, dry, and coastal-exposed summer conditions.

Wind, Humidity & Microclimate

Humidity Preferences

Adapts to a wide humidity range, from dry Mediterranean and desert air to humid coastal and subtropical conditions.

Dry-Air Tolerance

Tolerates dry air well.

Wind Tolerance

Excellent wind tolerance; its low, creeping, mat-forming habit suits exposed, windy coastal sites.

Coastal / Salt Tolerance

Outstanding salt and coastal tolerance, widely used for dune stabilization and seaside landscaping, handling salt spray and sandy, saline soils well.

Rainfall & Seasonal Moisture

Adapted to climates with a dry season and drought conditions; it does not require or want consistently wet soil.

Microclimate Recommendations

Well suited as a groundcover on sunny, exposed banks, dunes, and coastal slopes; note its vigorous spreading habit can become invasive if not contained.

Growing in Pots, Balconies & Indoors

Carpobrotus deliciosus (one of the pigface or ice plants) is a low, spreading, sun-loving succulent groundcover – only 5-20 cm (2-8 inches) tall but trailing as wide as you let it. It is not a houseplant, but it is superb spilling over the edge of a large container, a raised planter or a hanging basket in full sun on a balcony or patio.

Quick Details

• Container Size: A wide, shallow pot or trough, or a hanging basket – it wants room to trail rather than depth
• Indoor Suitability: Not an indoor plant – it needs full sun and space to spread; grow it outdoors
• Best Spot: Full sun
• Soil & Drainage: Sandy, gritty, free-draining mix; it thrives in lean soil and hates wet feet
• Watering in Pots: Water sparingly – it is very drought-tolerant; let the mix dry between waterings

Indoors & On the Windowsill

• Not for indoors: The grower’s answer is No – Carpobrotus wants full, direct sun and room to trail, which a room can’t provide; indoors it grows weak and leggy.
• Sunniest sill only: At most a young plant might sit briefly on the sunniest windowsill, but it really belongs outside in full sun.

On a Balcony or Patio

• Light & wind: Give it the hottest, sunniest spot – it loves reflected heat from walls and railings and shrugs off wind and salt air, which makes it a fine coastal-balcony plant. Let the stems cascade over the pot rim or basket edge.
• Practicalities: It spreads fast, so give it its own container; pots against warm walls dry quickly, but this succulent tolerates that better than most – water only when dry.

Choosing the Pot, Soil & Long-Term Care

• Pot & drainage: A wide container or hanging basket with strong drainage holes; skip a standing-water saucer to avoid root rot – it rots easily if kept wet.
• Potting mix: A sandy, gritty, free-draining mix – a cactus/succulent mix or potting mix cut with sand and grit.
• Feeding: Feed only lightly and occasionally; too much feed gives soft, floppy growth. A light annual feed replaces what leaches from the pot.
• Repotting: Refresh the mix and cut back straggly stems every year or two to keep it neat.

Fertilizing & Feeding

A very light feeder; this drought-adapted succulent grows slowly and needs only occasional, dilute feeding during active growth, and none while resting. Overfeeding does more harm than too little.

Quick Fertilizing Specs

Feeding Level	Light
Main Nutrient Priority	Lean, nitrogen-light feeding; avoid rich, high-nitrogen fertilizers
Best Feeding Period	Warm, active growing season only
Organic Options	A little compost or worm castings worked into a gritty mix; slow-release granular made for cacti and succulents
Micronutrients	Not routinely needed; correct only if a specific deficiency appears
Soil pH	Tolerates a wide range; prefers sharply drained, gritty media
Reduce/Stop Feeding	Taper off as growth slows and stop entirely during dormancy

Feeding by Growth Stage

Active growth (warm season)

Support steady, compact growth without forcing soft, leggy stems.

Nutrient direction	Lean, nitrogen-light feeding using a dilute balanced or low-nitrogen fertilizer; this succulent stores water and grows slowly, so it feeds sparingly.
Timing	During the warm, actively growing months when new leaves or stems are forming.
Frequency	Infrequent, light feeding through the growing season is usually enough; err toward under-feeding.
Fertilizer types	A dilute, balanced or low-nitrogen liquid fertilizer, A slow-release granular formulated for cacti and succulents
Precautions	Overfeeding is the main risk; excess fertilizer and salts scorch roots and cause soft, floppy growth. Feed less rather than more, and never feed dry, stressed plants.

Dormant rest (cool or dry season)

Let the plant rest; growth halts and nutrient demand disappears.

Nutrient direction	None – withhold fertilizer while the plant is dormant.
Timing	During cool winter months or hot, dry rest periods when the plant is not actively growing.
Frequency	No feeding at this stage.
Fertilizer types	No feeding at this stage; resume only when active growth returns.
Precautions	Do not fertilize until warm weather and active growth resume.

Nutrient Deficiency Signs & Corrections

Pale, stretched, or unusually soft new growth with washed-out color.

Possible causes	Insufficient light causing etiolation, Low nitrogen availability in an exhausted mix, Root confinement in a small pot
Appears first on	Newest growth at the stem tips.
What to check	Light exposure and day length, How long since the plant was last repotted or fed, Whether roots fill the container
Possible correction	Move to brighter light, refresh the mix, and offer a light, dilute low-nitrogen feeding during active growth rather than heavy fertilizing.

Browned, dried leaf tips or edges and crusty deposits on the soil surface or pot.

Possible causes	Accumulated fertilizer salts from overfeeding, Poor drainage or infrequent leaching, Underwatering that concentrates salts in the mix
Appears first on	Leaf tips and margins, oldest leaves first.
What to check	Recent fertilizer amounts and how often it was fed, Drainage and how freely the mix dries, Salt crust on the soil or container rim
Possible correction	Stop feeding, flush the mix thoroughly with plain water to leach salts, and resume only very light feeding once the plant recovers.

Yellowing between the veins on newer leaves while the veins stay greener.

Possible causes	Iron becoming unavailable in alkaline or overly wet mix, Waterlogged, poorly aerated roots, High soil pH reducing micronutrient uptake
Appears first on	Newest leaves.
What to check	Alkalinity of the mix and the irrigation water, Drainage and root health, Whether the mix stays wet too long
Possible correction	Improve drainage and correct alkalinity; if it persists, apply a chelated iron product according to its label.

Pruning, Training & Seasonal Maintenance

Carpobrotus deliciosus is a prostrate succulent subshrub that spreads by trailing, rooting stems rather than by developing a trunk or branch framework, so its care is trimming and containment, not structural pruning. There is an all-year pruning window aimed purely at shaping, and the plant flowers along its actively growing stem tips through spring, summer and autumn – cutting hard into that flush removes the current display rather than improving the plant’s form, so heavier work is best done just before spring growth resumes or once bloom eases.

Quick Pruning & Maintenance Specs

Pruning Tolerance	High for trimming/cutback; no woody structure at risk
Primary Pruning Window	All year, for shaping and spread control
Best Window for Hard Cutback	Before spring growth resumes, or once bloom eases
Typical Frequency	As needed – occasional edge trims plus periodic renewal
Main Objective	Design/shaping
Young Plant Priority	Pinch tips to build a dense mat rather than a few long runners
Mature Plant Priority	Contain spread; renew bare or thinning patches
Best Tool Type	Precision snips or bypass secateurs
Avoid Heavy Pruning During	Mid bloom flush if flowering display matters

Pruning by Plant Age & Size

Newly Established

No formative pruning needed beyond removing transplant-damaged stems.

Young / Formative

No structural training system applies; pinching growing tips promotes a fuller mat sooner.

Mature / Established

Ongoing containment of spreading stems and renewal of any bare or thinning centre in an established mat.

Seasonal Pruning Schedule

Pre-Growth / Early Spring

Objective: tidy winter dieback ahead of the spring flush.
Remove: dead or shriveled stem sections.
Do not remove: stems already carrying developing buds.
Flowering impact: negligible if limited to dead material.

Ongoing Sanitary

Objective: keep the mat within bounds year-round.
Remove: dead stems and runners rooting past the intended edge.
Do not remove: actively flowering tips unless containment requires it.

Structural Pruning & Training

Only height/spread control and periodic renewal of a tired mat apply – no branch structure to manage in this prostrate habit.

Special Growth to Remove

No rootstock suckers or watersprouts (not grafted). Remove dead interior stems and any runners rooted outside the bed; given this genus’s recorded invasive tendency, cut material should not be left on bare soil where it can re-root. Deadheading is cosmetic only.

Container & Small-Space Pruning

Suited to containers; pinch more frequently to keep a compact mound rather than an unchecked trail over the rim. As a succulent it tolerates trimming without wilting.

Tools

Precision snips or bypass secateurs for stem trims; no loppers, saw or pole pruner needed for a plant with no woody limb structure of that size.

Tool Hygiene & Disease Risk

Routine. The only recorded pest is snails, not a transmissible pathogen, so clean sharp tools are sufficient.

Cut Placement & Technique

Cut cleanly just above a node with a sharp blade; a dull tool crushes rather than slices the fleshy stem, inviting rot at the cut. Soft tips can be pinched by hand.

Heavy Pruning & Rejuvenation

Tolerated. A bare-centred mat can be cut back hard and resprouts from remaining stem tissue within a season, with reduced flowering through the next flush while it regrows.

Post-Pruning Care

Water lightly to support regrowth if cutting back outside the rainy season; avoid overwatering. Watch fresh regrowth for snail grazing. No feeding is needed after a trim.

Common Pruning Mistakes

Leaving cut stems on open soil where they can root and spread; shearing the whole mat flat instead of renewing it in sections; using dull blades that crush the succulent stems.

When NOT to Prune

Avoid a hard cutback during the spring–autumn bloom flush if flowering matters, and avoid leaving debris where it can root and spread given the plant’s invasive tendency.

Recommended Tools (by task)

• Young plant, tip pinching – precision_snips: small clean cuts that encourage branching.
• Mature mat, containment & renewal – bypass_secateurs: clean cuts through trailing stems for spread control and patch renewal.

Propagation Guide

Carpobrotus deliciosus (sweet hottentots fig) is most reliably propagated from stem cuttings, since its trailing succulent stems root readily at the nodes; seed is a usable but slower alternative. Propagation is easy for a home grower.

Quick Propagation Specs

Best Propagation Method	Stem cuttings
Alternative Methods	Seed; transplanting already-rooted trailing-stem sections
Propagation Difficulty	Easy
Seed True-to-Type	Usually true-to-type
Vegetative True-to-Type	Yes
Best Propagation Season	Warm growing months; near year-round in frost-free climates
Seed Germination Time	Typically several weeks, often uneven
Cutting Rooting Time	Usually a few weeks under warm conditions
Germination Temperature	Roughly 20–25°C (68–77°F)
Seed Sowing Depth	Surface-sow or cover only very lightly

Growing from Seed

Seed Handling & Viability

Seed is listed as a standard starting method alongside vegetative reproduction; use it reasonably fresh, since long-term storage viability isn’t well documented for this species.

Sowing Season

Sow during the warm growing months, in line with the plant’s year-round recommended planting season in mild, frost-free climates.

Sowing Depth & Orientation

Surface-sow or cover with only a thin layer of sandy mix.

Germination Conditions

Warm conditions (roughly 20–25°C / 68–77°F) with light, consistent moisture in a well-drained, sandy medium.

Germination Time

Expect several weeks, potentially uneven.

Seedling Care

Grow seedlings on in a well-drained sandy mix under full sun; they take longer to form a useful mat than rooted cuttings.

Stem Cuttings

Cutting Type

Firm, non-flowering trailing stem sections, roughly 10–15cm (4–6in) long.

Best Timing

Take cuttings in the warmer months; in frost-free climates this extends close to year-round, matching the plant’s all-year recommended planting season.

Cutting Preparation

Cut cleanly below a node and strip leaves from the buried portion. Let the cut callus in a dry, shaded spot for a day before inserting. A trailing stem section already showing roots at a node can be severed and transplanted directly.

Rooting Setup

Insert into a well-drained, sandy or gritty mix; keep lightly moist, not wet, in full sun.

Rooting Hormone

Not necessary – stems root readily on their own, including from fragments.

Rooting Time

New roots typically establish within a few weeks under warm conditions.

Bloom & Flower Guide

Quick Details

• Bloom Season: Through spring, summer and into autumn
• Time to First Bloom: Usually within the first year or two, once the mat has established
• Flower Appearance: Pink-purple, many-petalled and daisy-like
• Edibility: The flower is ornamental and is not eaten

Detailed Blooming Overview

Sweet hottentots fig (Carpobrotus deliciosus) is a mat-forming coastal succulent that flowers freely once it has spread out. The large, many-petalled blooms open in full sun and close again at night and on dull, overcast days, so the sheet of colour comes and goes with the light.

Flower Characteristics

• Pink-purple flowers with many petals.
• Each flower carries many narrow, glossy petals in a daisy-like ring around a dense centre of stamens.
• Borne singly on the trailing stems, opening in sunshine and closing at dusk.

Bloom Care & Thinning

• Managing the bloom: Very little is needed; flowering is best in full sun on lean, sharply drained soil.
• Tidying up: Shear off spent flowers to keep the mat neat and to limit self-seeding, as Carpobrotus can spread vigorously along coastlines.
• Pollination: Bees and other insects work the open flowers.

Fruit & Uses

Carpobrotus deliciosus (Sweet hottentots fig) is grown as an ornamental drought-tolerant groundcover, but as its name suggests, its green, fig-shaped fruit is genuinely edible and can be eaten fresh or preserved. Leaves are not documented as an edible part for this species.

Quick Edible Specs

Aspect	Details
Edible Parts	Fruit only
Main Use(s)	Culinary – fresh eating, jam, salad, pickles, cooking or drying
Eaten Raw or Cooked	Both – raw out of hand, or cooked/pickled/dried
Preparation Required	None for fresh eating; cooking or pickling only if preserving
Harvest Season	Summer, Autumn and into Winter
Time to First Harvest	Fruiting generally begins once the plant is established
Storage	Best used fresh or preserved (jam/pickle/dried)
Safety/Toxicity Caveat	None noted – a traditional food within the Carpobrotus (sour fig) group

Fruit

Fruit is green and fig-shaped, ripening across summer, autumn and into winter, and softens as it matures – the main cue for harvest. It is picked by hand as it ripens, with no special handling required, and can be gathered repeatedly over the extended ripening window rather than in one pass.

Preparation, Uses & Safety

The fruit can be eaten raw, added to salads, pickled, cooked, dried, or made into jam. No detoxifying step is needed. As with other members of this group, slugs and snails are the main pest risk to ripening fruit.

Pests, Diseases & Troubleshooting

Overview: Carpobrotus deliciosus, like all Carpobrotus (ice plant / pigface), is a tough, salt- and drought-tolerant coastal succulent groundcover that is very nearly pest-free; the few pests it gets are sap-suckers (mealybugs, scale, occasional aphids) and slugs/snails in damp sites. Its overwhelming real threat is not a pest at all but root and stem rot from overwatering and poor drainage, so honest management here is mostly about lean soil, sharp drainage and restraint with the hose rather than spraying.

Quick Troubleshooting Overview

Issue / Pest	Main Symptom	Primary Solution
Mealybugs	White cottony clusters in leaf joints, honeydew	Water jet or alcohol swab, neem/oil
Scale	Brown/gray bumps on stems, honeydew	Scrape off, prune runners, horticultural oil
Slugs / snails	Chewed holes and slime trails in damp sites	Reduce watering, hand-pick, iron-phosphate bait
Root / stem rot	Yellowing, soft collapsing patches of the mat	Sharp drainage, water less, remove rotted sections
Overwatering	General softening and rot in heavy or wet soil	Lean sandy soil, minimal irrigation once established
Frost damage	Glassy then brown-mushy leaves after freeze	Site warm, keep dry in cold, trim and let regrow

Common Pests & Management

• Mealybugs (Pseudococcus / Planococcus spp.):
  • Symptoms: White cottony clusters tucked into leaf joints, growing tips and the dense mat beneath the foliage; honeydew and sooty mold; usually the most likely pest on an otherwise trouble-free groundcover.
  • Prevention & Control: Hose off with a strong water jet or wipe with an alcohol-dipped swab; thin congested growth to expose colonies; encourage ladybirds and lacewings. Neem or horticultural oil and insecticidal soap handle stubborn patches.
• Scale insects (Coccidae / Diaspididae):
  • Symptoms: Small brown or gray bumps on stems and older leaves that do not rub off; localized yellowing and honeydew from soft scales.
  • Prevention & Control: Scrape off light infestations; prune out badly affected runners. Horticultural oil smothers scale; repeat to catch crawlers.
• Aphids (Aphididae):
  • Symptoms: Small soft insects on tender new growth and flower buds, with distortion and honeydew; occasional rather than chronic on these succulents.
  • Prevention & Control: Rinse off with water; encourage beneficials; treat lingering colonies with insecticidal soap.
• Slugs and snails (Gastropoda):
  • Symptoms: Irregular chewed holes and slime trails on fleshy leaves and stems, especially in damp, shaded, over-irrigated plantings.
  • Prevention & Control: Reduce watering and clear damp hiding places; hand-pick at night; use barriers or iron-phosphate baits around vulnerable young plantings.

Diseases & Fungal Issues

• Root and stem rot (Phytophthora / Pythium / Fusarium):
  • Symptoms: Patches of the mat yellow, brown and collapse, with soft, rotted stems and roots; almost always caused by overwatering, poor drainage or planting in heavy, water-retentive soil — by far the main way these plants die.
  • Treatment & Management: Plant in free-draining, even sandy or gritty soil; water sparingly once established (they are highly drought- and salt-tolerant); never let the crown sit wet. Remove and destroy rotted sections, improve drainage, and replant healthy runners into dry ground.
• Sooty mold (Capnodium spp.):
  • Symptoms: Black superficial film over leaves and stems wherever honeydew from mealybugs, scale or aphids has settled; blocks light but does not infect tissue.
  • Treatment & Management: Control the sap-sucking pest producing the honeydew, then rinse the mold away; it clears once the honeydew source is removed.

Growing Difficulties & Abiotic Problems

• Overwatering and poor drainage:
  • Cause & Symptoms: Yellowing, softening and rotting of the mat when grown too wet or in heavy soil; as a coastal succulent groundcover, Carpobrotus is adapted to lean, dry, sandy conditions and quickly rots with excess moisture.
  • Correction Strategy: Establish in well-drained, low-fertility soil and water only until established, then rely on rainfall in most climates; avoid irrigation basins and heavy mulch over the crown.
• Frost damage:
  • Cause & Symptoms: Fleshy leaves turn glassy, translucent and then brown-mushy after frost; these plants are only lightly frost-tolerant and are damaged by hard freezes.
  • Correction Strategy: In frost-prone areas site against warm walls or slopes and keep plants on the dry side going into cold; trim damaged growth once warmth returns and the mat will usually regenerate.
• Heat, sun and salt tolerance notes:
  • Cause & Symptoms: Rarely a problem — these are extremely sun-, heat-, drought- and salt-tolerant — but very congested growth can shade out and rot underneath, and newly divided pieces can scorch before rooting.
  • Correction Strategy: Allow airflow through the mat and let new divisions root before exposing them to the harshest sun; otherwise this plant thrives on neglect in full sun and coastal salt spray.

What Helps — Products & Tools

This plant needs very little intervention. Keep insecticidal soap and neem or horticultural oil for the occasional mealybug, scale or aphid patch, and iron-phosphate slug bait for damp plantings. The most valuable “tools” are cultural: free-draining sandy soil, minimal irrigation once established, and prompt removal of any rotted sections — overwatering, not insects, is what kills these succulents.