Carpobrotus edulis
Common name
ice plant
Family
Aizoaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Exotic
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledons other than Composites
NVS code
The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.
CAREDU
Habitat
Terrestrial. Coastal
Features
Mat-forming trailing perennial herb. Stems to about 6 m long, occasionally rooting, subwoody at base. Leaves sharply 3-angled. Flowers 8-10 cm diameter, petals pale yellow turning pink with age.
Similar taxa
Very similar to C. chilensis but can be distinguished when flowering by its yellow rather than purple petals, fading to dull pink.
Flowering
October, November, December, January, February
Flower colours
Red/Pink, Yellow
Year naturalised
1883
Origin
S. Africa
Etymology
carpobrotus: From the Greek karpos ‘fruit’ and brotus ‘edible’, the fruits of some species being edible.
Reason For Introduction
Ornamental.
Life Cycle Comments
Perennial.