We have recently published ‘Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions’: i.e. tropical and sub-tropical regions. We rely on regular donations to keep our free database going and help fund development of this and another book we are planning on food forest plants for Mediterranean climates. Please give what you can to keep PFAF properly funded. More >>>

Follow Us:

 

Carpobrotus glaucescens - (Haw.)Schwantes.

Common Name Pigface
Family Aizoaceae
USDA hardiness 8-11
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Grows near the sea[265].
Range Australia - Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Half Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Carpobrotus glaucescens Pigface


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Dlanglois
Carpobrotus glaucescens Pigface
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Carpobrotus_glaucescens_leaves.jpg

 

Translate this page:

Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Carpobrotus glaucescens is an evergreen Perennial growing to 0.3 m (1ft) by 2 m (6ft 7in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Mesembryanthemum glaucescens Haw.

Plant Habitats

 Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[193]. Considered a delicacy by the native people, the fruit has a soft, wet pulp with the flavour of salty strawberries or fresh, juicy figs[193]. The red to purple fruit is 20 - 30mm long[365]. Leaves - a salty flavour[193].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


The leaves are antiscorbutic[343]. The juice from the succulent leaves has been applied externally to relieve pain from insect bites[343].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books

Our Latest books on Perennial Plants For Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens in paperback or digital formats.

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Tropical Plants

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Temperate Plants

Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital media.
More Books

PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital formats. Browse the shop for more information.

Shop Now

Other Uses

Agroforestry Uses: Species in this genus have a vigorous, prostrate growth habit, producing a dense carpet of foliage and making a very effective ground cover. They can be planted in maritime areas, especially in Mediterranean climates, in order to prevent soil erosion in sandy soils, dunes and on banks[200, 208, 343]. The plant acts to stabilize sand dunes, even surviving burial by the sand[343]. It thus paves the way for other species to become established on the dunes[343]. The plant has very fleshy leaves and is moderately fire-resistant. It can be used in barrier plantings to prevent the spread of forest fires[200].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Carpobrotus glaucescens is a plant of low elevations, mainly in the subtropics but extending into the tropics[193]. It is not very cold-hardy, but can tolerate short periods with temperatures falling to around -2°c[200]. Succeeds in most relatively well-drained positions in either full sun or partial shade; though an open sunny position is best[343]. Found naturally in poor sandy soils and cliff faces[343]. Plants are tolerant of saline soils and maritime winds[343]. Established plants are drought tolerant[343].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

image

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

Shop Now

Plant Propagation

Seed - surface sow in containers. Lower night-time temperatures are beneficial. The seed usually germinates in 7 - 10 days at 23°c[138]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on until large enough to plant out. Propagation is easiest by layering (rooting horizontal stem cuttings), as this is how the plant grows naturally[343]. These layers should be around 30 cm in length and planted leaving at least 5 cm of the plant above the sand or soil[343]. The plant can also be grown from cut pieces or division of large plants[343].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

AUSTRALASIA: Australia (New South Wales (east), Queensland (east), Victoria (east))

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Carpobrotus acinaciformisHottentot FigPerennial0.1 8-11  LNDM203
Carpobrotus aequilaterusSea FigPerennial0.2 7-10  LMNDM203
Carpobrotus deliciosusSweet Hottentot FigPerennial0.2 7-10  LMHSNM202
Carpobrotus edulisHottentot Fig,Perennial0.1 7-10  LNDM222
Carpobrotus modestusInland PigfacePerennial0.2 8-11  LMHSNDM00 
Carpobrotus rossiiKarkallaPerennial0.2 8-11  LMHSNDM00 
Carpobrotus virescensCoastal PigfacePerennial0.5 8-11  LMHSNDM00 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

(Haw.)Schwantes.

Botanical References

200265

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

   Tue Jun 10 00:31:17 2003

Re. edible uses: a dune-colonising carpobrotus ssp. (almost down to upper tide limit), N. Sydney, in flo. & frt at turn of the year, is likely to have been c. glauc.; cf. Geoff Sainty et al., "Burnum Burnum's Wildthings Around Sydney" (Potts Point, 1989: Sainty & Associates), ISBN 0 7316 6587 2, entry 200, p. 44 (a summary/pop. field guide, so there must be fuller refs they used). Described there as "reportedly" eaten by Aborigines - the leaf sap and fruit pulp. I tried the latter from ripe frt & found it refreshingly tart (too astringent/'tannic' unripe).

Julie   Wed Sep 6 2006

The fruit is delicious if picked at the right time, to me it tastes like a salty monsterio delicio.

Add a comment

If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at [email protected]. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.

* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.

To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.

Subject : Carpobrotus glaucescens  
© 2010, Plants For A Future. Plants For A Future is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Charity No. 1057719, Company No. 3204567.