Carpobrotus edulis (Ice plant)

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Carpobrotus edulis (L.) L. Bolus

Ice plant, hottentot fig, highway ice plant, pigface, sour fig

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Caryophyllidae	Cacti, many other succulents, carnivorous plants, and leadworts
Order	Caryophyllales	Includes cacti, carnations, amaranths, ice plants, and many carnivorous plants
Family	Aizoaceae	Fig-marigold or ice plant family (previously Mesembryanthemaceae)
Genus	Carpobrotus	From Greek carpos, “fruit,” and brotus, “edible”
Species	edulis	“Edible”—the fruit is eaten in South Africa

About plant names...

I couldn't find an explanation for the common name, "ice plants." It certainly isn't related to their preferred climate, which is hot and dry. Ice plants are succulents—plants that cope with arid regions by storing water in thick leaves. Ice plants are native to South Africa. They were introduced into North America, where they thrived and are classified as invasive species in many habitats.

Identification: Plants form large, low-growing mats less than 5" (13 cm) high. Leaves are about 24-51" (60-130 cm) long, and triangular in cross-section, with each edge about ⅜-⁷/₁₆" (1-1.2 cm) long. Flowers are yellow or light pink and 2½-6" (6.3-15 cm) in diameter. Don't confuse these with Carpobrotus chilensis:

7/29/2023 · South Africa · By Benjamin Winslow ID is uncertain

7/29/2023 · South Africa · By Benjamin Winslow

	*Carpobrotus chilensis*	You are here Carpobrotus edulis
Common Name	sea fig	ice plant
Plant	A few inches high, with stems that creep along the ground, spreading quickly.	3-4" (7.6-10 cm) high, with stems that creep along the ground, spreading quickly.
Flowers	*Dark pink or purple.* *Larger*, 1½-2½" (3.8-6.3 cm) in diameter.	*Smaller, 2½-6" (6.3-15 cm) in diameter, yellow or light pink*.
Leaves	Triangular cross section, 1½" (3.8 cm) long	Up to 5" (13 cm) long, dense, triangular in cross-section. Green or yellow-green leaves may be tinged with red.
Fruit	Green to yellowish, roughly oval	About 1½" (3.8 cm) in diameter, shaped like a spinning top.
Range/ Zones	USDA Zones: 9b-11	USDA Zones: 9-11
Habitats	Coastal sage scrub	Coastal sage scrub
Type	Wild	Wild
Occurrence	Common, fairly invasive	Invasive in California, Australia, and the Mediterranean

By Barry Rice at sarracenia.com.

Edibility: Fully ripe fruit can be made into pickles, chutney, etc. Leaves are edible, used in salads or as a substitute for pickled cucumber, though some don't like the sticky nature of the interior (like okra).

Online References:

The South African National Biodiversity Institute's web site, plantzafrica.com

Wikipedia

Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences

The California Invasive Plant Council

CalPhotos

The Global Invasive Species Database

The Jepson Manual

Mesembryanthemum edule L.

Carpobrotus edulis description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 16 Sep 2020.

3/20/2011 · By Benjamin Winslow

8/9/2023 · Cape of Good Hope, Western Cape, South Africa · By Benjamin Winslow

Range: Zones 9-11:

About this map...