The Aizoaceae family is endemic to South Africa and has brought forth a multitude of mostly low-growing, spreading plants with fleshy leaves and bright flowers that work well as ground cover on dry soils in full sun. Several of its members are know as “ice plant” or “mesembryanthemum”.
Interestingly, even “New Zealand Spinach” that grows fabulously in summer in the vegetable garden, belongs to this family.
All of these “ice plants” or “carpet weeds” never interested me much until I moved here and noticed how well they grow here, coping with the biggest heat and even, in most cases, minus temperatures. They are drought-tolerant and resistant to fire as well as not expensive to buy and happy to propagate in the garden.
I do get confused a lot in naming them because so many of them look similar, but are actually different species. It doesn’t help that most garden centers also mix them up or don’t even use a species name, calling them all “Ficoïde” instead.
These are the ones I’ve tried in my garden so far:
Aptenia cordifolia / Mesembryanthemum cordifolium
A perennial succulent, creeping to form a flat carpet on the ground It grows to about 10 cm high but the prostrate stems can be up to 60 cm long. The dark pink-red flowers are tiny and not very prolific, but very pretty against the leaves. The leaves can be green or green-white. They appear from June through September. This plant survives -4°C without any problems whatsoever and spreads quickly to form a dense ground cover on the most ingrate soil in full sun.
Carpobrotus
Not a mesembryanthemum, but a member of Aizoaceae, it comes in various similarly looking forms (edulis, deliciosus, acinaciformis, etc.) and is coloquially called “griffes de sorcière” (witch’s claws) in France. It’s a potentially invasive plant, forming sprawling succulent groundcovers. It has larger leaves compared to others of its kind, they are dark green and thick. The flowers are pink or purple and bloom between February and July. The fruits are edible. In my garden it hasn’t really flourished yet (though I keep trying) but I see it lots of places around here covering up arid banks in full sun. It easily survives -4°C and more in my garden.
Wikipedia says that Carpobrotus leaf juice can be used as astringent, for treating diarrhea, stomach cramps, sore throat or mild bacterial infections of the mouth. Growing on sandy dunes, it is a popular emergency treatment for jellyfish and similar stings and can be used externally öike aloe vera for wounds, mosquito bites, sunburn, and other skin conditions.
Delosperma cooperi and sutherlandii
Dwarf perennials that form a dense ground cover with abundant, brilliantly colored flowers from May to September/October. Height up to 15 cm with fleshy leaves and trailing stems. The difference lies mostly in the leaves which are a bit flatter and hairier in sutherlandii. They love full sun and dry and hot environments and need well drained, even rocky soils. They are hardy to −10 °C and they are drought-resistant – but appreciate a bit of water during the summer.
Drosanthemum hispidum
Called “grain de riz” (rice grain) in colloquial French, this is not a mesembryanthemum, but another member of Aizoaceae. A perennial succulent with creeping stems that root easily on contact with the ground. It grows up to 20cm tall and spreads up to 80 cm wide and more. It blooms abundantly in hot pink but sadly only from the end of March until June in my garden. It thrives in well-drained, light, sandy or even stony soil, on rocks, walls or slopes. It requires no water, even in summer.
Lampranthus aurantiacus
Not a mesembryanthemum, but a member of Aizoaceae and another succulent ground cover, spreading up to 50 cm wide and 35 cm high. Unlike others of its family it is not very hardy and will die at temperatures below -1°C. Flowers in orange, red, yellow, magenta, or pink from April to July. Lampranthus are drought-resistant but appreciate a bit of water in summer.
Lampranthus spectabilis
Sold in garden centers under names like “Tresco Brilliant”, “‘Tresco Peach”, “Tresco Red”, etc. Same size as aurantiacus, flowering from June to October in my garden. They are bit more hardy than aurantiacus and will survive up to -6°C in well-drained soil. Lampranthus are drought-resistant but appreciate a bit of water in summer.
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