Hottentot fig
Carpobrotus edulis · Aizoaceae
📷 Taken by Carsten Niehaus (user:Lumbar). · CC BY-SA 3.0
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around hottentot fig and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Family
- Aizoaceae
- Form
- Trailing succulent plant
- Foliage
- Evergreen, fleshy and bright green
- Flowering
- April to June, pink-magenta flowers
- Adult size
- 20 cm high, spreading habit
- Growth
- Fast
- Hardiness
- Frost-tender, Mediterranean or sheltered climate
- Origin
- South Africa
- Soil
- Well-drained, light, even poor
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability medium.
Expert tips
The key tip
Carpobrotus is a coastal succulent that hates cold AND standing water. In pots or in the ground, drainage is key: gravel, no heavy soil.
The common mistake
Watering it like a regular plant in autumn–winter promotes root rot.
The pro's trick
Pinch back the stems in April–May to make it bushier.
Care
Watering
Water moderately during the growing season (spring-summer), every 10 to 14 days. In winter, drastically reduce watering. Let the soil dry out completely between waterings: excess water is the main cause of root rot.
Light exposure
Place the Ice Plant in full sun for generous flowering and dense foliage. It tolerates light shade, but its growth and flowers will suffer as a result. Choose a warm, well-ventilated location.
Pruning and maintenance
Prune lightly after flowering to maintain a compact shape and encourage branching. Remove damaged or rotted stems or leaves. Low-maintenance, it doesn't require regular major intervention.
Fertilizer
Apply diluted succulent or cactus fertilizer once or twice in spring and early summer. Avoid feeding in autumn and winter. Moderately fertile soil is sufficient; excess nitrogen promotes foliage at the expense of flowering.
Soil and planting
Use a very well-draining mix: cactus and succulent compost, or light garden soil mixed with sand and gravel. Impeccable drainage is essential to prevent rot. Plant in a perforated pot or directly in light, sandy soil.
Diseases and pests
Main risk: root and stem rot from excess moisture. Check the condition of stems regularly. In dry, well-ventilated conditions, it is very resistant. Little susceptible to pests in Mediterranean climates.
Did you know?
The Ice Plant, native to the coasts of South Africa, has become invasive in the Mediterranean, particularly on rocky coastlines, where it colonizes cliffs and smothers local flora. Ironically, it has adapted so well there that people sometimes think it's native to the Mediterranean. Its name 'edulis' highlights the fact that its fleshy fruits were consumed by local populations, hence its affectionate nickname 'Hottentot fig' in English.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring, once all risk of frost has gone. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: from April to June.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Ruschia lineolataRuschia lineolata
- Pink trailing iceplantDelosperma cooperi
- Sea purslaneSesuvium portulacastrum
- Crystalline ice plantMesembryanthemum crystallinum
- New Zealand spinachTetragonia tetragonoides
- Slenderleaf iceplantMesembryanthemum nodiflorum
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.