Hottentot fig (sour fig, ice plant) Carpobrotus edulis
Hottentot fig (sour fig, ice plant) (Carpobrotus edulis) is an evergreen perennial groundcover in the Aizoaceae family, native to Coastal Cape, South Africa. It grows 15–30 cm (6–12 in) tall and 1–3 m (3.3–10 ft) wide, wants full sun and low water, and is hardy to about -4 °C (25 °F). Space plants about 80 cm (31 in) apart.
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Hottentot fig (sour fig, ice plant) at a glance
| Type | Perennial groundcover, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Aizoaceae |
| Mature height | 15–30 cm (6–12 in) |
| Mature spread | 1–3 m (3.3–10 ft) |
| Spacing | 80 cm (31 in) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 6 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Low; drought tolerance high, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Soil pH | 5–8.5 |
| Cold hardiness | About -4 °C (25 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 9) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 40 °C (104 °F) |
| Flowering | about 39–52 weeks after planting, for 6–10 weeks |
| Wind tolerance | High |
| Pollinator value | High |
| Edible | Yes: ripe fruit (sour figs: raw, jam), leaves (juice used on stings) |
| Native to | Coastal Cape, South Africa |
| Common in gardens of | 🇿🇦 South Africa, 🇺🇸 United States, 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇵🇹 Portugal, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇫🇷 France, 🇦🇺 Australia, 🇳🇿 New Zealand, 🇮🇱 Israel |
| Invasive in | California, the Mediterranean coasts, Australia, New Zealand, the Azores and Canary Islands: check local rules before planting |
Is Hottentot fig (sour fig, ice plant) toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
Not poisonous.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Hottentot fig (sour fig, ice plant)
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and low water.
Questions about Hottentot fig (sour fig, ice plant)
- How far apart should I plant Hottentot fig (sour fig, ice plant)?
- About 80 cm (31 in) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 1–3 m (3.3–10 ft).
- Does Hottentot fig (sour fig, ice plant) need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Hottentot fig (sour fig, ice plant) need?
- Low water. Drought tolerance is high and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Hottentot fig (sour fig, ice plant)?
- It tolerates about -4 °C (25 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 9.
- When does Hottentot fig (sour fig, ice plant) flower?
- About 39–52 weeks after planting, for 6–10 weeks.
- Is Hottentot fig (sour fig, ice plant) poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. Not poisonous.
- What grows well with Hottentot fig (sour fig, ice plant)?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Hottentot fig (sour fig, ice plant). Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (low).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade A (A: strong evidence).
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- CABI Invasive Species Compendium, CABI
- PlantZAfrica, South African National Biodiversity Institute
Notes and assumptions
- Trailing stems of three-sided succulent leaves form thick mats with big yellow or pink daisy-like flowers. Planted widely to hold sand dunes and road banks, it has smothered native coastal plants in California and around the Mediterranean; in South Africa the sour figs are made into jam.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- New Zealand spinach (warrigal greens) Tetragonia tetragonioides
- Hardy ice plant Delosperma cooperi
- Trailing ice plant (vygie) Lampranthus spectabilis
- Living stones (Leslie’s lithops) Lithops lesliei
- Common ice plant (crystalline ice plant) Mesembryanthemum crystallinum
- Creeping thyme Thymus serpyllum
- Hosta Hosta spp.
- Lamb's ear Stachys byzantina