Skip

Last edited on 29 Nov 2025. View history

Ice Plant

Carpobrotus edulis
Also known as highway ice plant (EN) pigface (EN) Hottentot fig (EN) sour fig (EN)

How to sow ice plant: Stem cuttings, seeds

Sun requirement for ice plant: Plant in Full Sun

Carpobrotus (also known as Hottentot Fig, Ice Plant, Pigface, and Sour Fig) is a genus of evergreen, succulent, ground-creeping plants with large daisy-like flowers. Flowers are pale yellow to deep fuchsia. The genus includes 12-20 species, most of which are native to South Africa. Carpobrotus is a perennial where temperatures are between 4-14° C, and an annual in cooler regions. The plant spreads readily through seed and segmentation (any part of the plant can produce shoots) and has become invasive in Australia, the Mediterranean, and California. It's invasive tendencies can be managed by growing the plant in containers, deadheading the flowers, and cutting it back in the fall. The leaves and fruit of Carpobrotus are edible. Tart fruit can be eaten fresh or made into jam.

0
plantings
0
harvests
0
seed packets
Growstuff is a free, community-run site for people who grow food. Keep track of what you plant and harvest, find seeds to swap, and see what is growing near you. Join to record your own ice plants.

Ice plant facts

Lifespan

Annual living and reproducing in a single year or less

Height × spread

15cm × 5000cm

Photos

Ice plant crops

Video

What people are saying about ice plants

Nobody has posted about ice plants yet.

Sign in or sign up to post your tips and experiences growing ice plants.
Image of ice plant

Who's planted ice plants

Nobody has planted this crop yet.

Sign in or sign up to track your ice plant plantings.

Ice plant harvests

Nobody has harvested this crop yet.

Sign in or sign up to track your ice plant harvests.

Find ice plant seeds

There are no seeds available to trade on Growstuff right now.

Learn more about ice plants

Resources outside Growstuff.