Carpobrotus acinaciformis
| Carpobrotus acinaciformis | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 9 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Evergreen | |
| Height: | 0.3' |
| Width: | 3' |
| Blooms: | Late Spring-Mid Summer |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Carpobrotus acinaciformis (common name: hottentot fig, formally known as Mesembryanthemum acinaciforme)
Propagation: Seed - surface sow March to June in a greenhouse. Lower night-time temperatures are beneficial. The seed usually germinates in 7 - 10 days at 23°c[1]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Cuttings at any time during the growing season. Allow the cutting to dry in the sun for a day or two then pot up in a very sandy mix. Very easy[K].
Cultivation: Requires a well-drained sandy soil in a sunny position[2][3]. Plants can be grown on dry walls or in the flower border[4]. Established plants are very drought resistant[3]. Very resistant to wind and salt spray[4]. Moderately fire-retardant[3].
Plants are not very frost resistant and can be killed by temperatures below about -2°c. They have naturalized themselves on cliffs along the coast of S. Britain but do not succeed inland unless grown in a sunny sheltered position[3].
A vigorous prostrate plant, rooting as it spreads. The flowers only open in the afternoon[3].
Range: S. Africa - Cape Province. Naturalized in Britain[2].
Habitat: Sandy and rocky places near the sea[5]. Naturalized on cliffs and banks by the sea in Cornwall and S. Devon[2].
Edibility: Fruit - raw[2][6][7]. There is very little flesh in the fruit and it must be fully ripe otherwise it is very astringent[K]. Insipid[8][9][10].
Leaves - raw or cooked[11][12]. Very mucilaginous, we find it very hard to enjoy them[K].
Usage: Planted in maritime areas to prevent soil erosion in sandy soils and on steep banks[3]. Plants form a dense carpet and make an effective ground cover[13].
The plant is moderately fire-resistant and can be used in barrier plantings to prevent the spread of forest fires[3].
Pollinators: Bees
Soil: Can grow in light soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Wind: Tolerates maritime wind exposure
In Leaf: Evergreen
Seed Ripens: Late Summer-Early Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Also Known As: Mesembryanthemum acinaciforme.
Links
References
- ↑ Bird, R. Growing from Seed Volume 3. Thompson and Morgan, 1989.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Taylor, Jane. The Milder Garden. Dent, 1990.
- ↑ Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2. Pan Books, London, 1998.
- ↑ Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ Polunin, Oleg. Flowers of the Mediterranean. Hogarth Press, 1987.
- ↑ Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ Crowe, Andrew. Native Edible Plants of New Zealand. Hodder and Stoughton, 1990.
- ↑ Thomas, Graham. Plants for Ground Cover. Everyman, 1990.