{"title":"Pigface","description":"\u003cp\u003ePigface is the ground cover for the places that defeat other plants: beach front sand, hot dry banks, salty wind and reflected heat. It makes a thick mat of fleshy leaves that holds soil and shades out weeds, then covers itself in glossy daisy like flowers in pink, mauve, magenta, red, yellow or white. This range includes native pigface and the smaller ice plants. Every plant is delivered Australia wide.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to choose a pigface\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSize of leaf and spread are the difference. Native pigface, \u003cem\u003eCarpobrotus\u003c\/em\u003e, has thick three sided leaves and large pink to purple flowers, and each plant spreads up to 2m, which makes it the choice for dunes, batters and big areas. \u003ca href=\"\/products\/pigface-carpobrotus-aussie-rambler\"\u003eAussie Rambler\u003c\/a\u003e is a selected form with very large pink flowers. \u003ca href=\"\/products\/round-leaf-pigface-disphyma-crassifolium\"\u003eRound leaf pigface\u003c\/a\u003e is another native, finer and flatter, with small pink flowers and a high tolerance of salt and wet. The ice plants are neater, spreading about a metre with masses of smaller flowers, and they bring the widest colour range: mauve, magenta, pink, white, yellow and the vivid \u003ca href=\"\/products\/red-pigface-mesembryanthemum-sp-red\"\u003ered pigface\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere pigface works\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFull sun is essential: the flowers open in sunshine and close in shade. Beyond that it asks for drainage and nothing more. Use it on coastal blocks, steep banks, the tops of retaining walls, nature strips, roof gardens and wide pots. It handles drought, salt spray and poor sandy soil, and takes light frost. It is one of the most reliable \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coastal-salt-tolerant-plants\"\u003ecoastal and salt tolerant plants\u003c\/a\u003e and one of the fastest in our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/groundcover\"\u003eground cover\u003c\/a\u003e range.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting and spacing\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSpace native pigface about 1m apart and ice plants 50cm to 60cm apart for full cover within a season or two. On a slope, plant in staggered rows. Water in well, then weekly for the first month. No soil improvement is needed in sand; in clay, plant on a raised bed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCare basics\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePigface needs almost no care. Water only in long dry spells once established, and do not feed heavily, which gives leaf at the expense of flower. Trim the edges where it reaches paths. If the centre of an old mat thins after several years, cut it back or replant pieces: stems root wherever they touch the soil.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow fast does pigface spread?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFast. In a warm, sunny position each plant can cover a square metre or more in its first year.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhen does pigface flower?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe main show is spring into early summer, with flowers on and off through the warm months.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eDoes pigface grow in sand?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. It grows naturally on dunes and is one of the best plants for holding sandy soil near the coast.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eDoes pigface need watering?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOnly while it establishes. After that rainfall is usually enough, even in dry summers.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"pigface-carpobrotus-spp","title":"Pigface - Carpobrotus spp.","description":"\u003cp\u003ePigface (\u003cem\u003eCarpobrotus\u003c\/em\u003e spp.) is the succulent groundcover for ground that defeats everything else. It sits about 20cm high and spreads to around 2m, rooting as it runs, so a handful of plants can cover a hot sandy bank in a season. Bright pink and purple flowers open through the warmer months.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIt covers ground fast.\u003c\/strong\u003e The fleshy stems root where they touch soil, so cover spreads outward from every plant rather than waiting on a single crown.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSalt, heat and drought are all fine.\u003c\/strong\u003e This is why it grows on front dunes with no help from anyone.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePoor soil suits it.\u003c\/strong\u003e Sand, gravel and thin fill are its natural ground. Rich, heavily fed beds give soft growth and fewer flowers.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSafe around pets.\u003c\/strong\u003e Not toxic to cats or dogs, which matters in a groundcover a dog will walk straight across.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEdible fruit on the native species.\u003c\/strong\u003e Australian coastal species in this group, such as \u003cem\u003eCarpobrotus glaucescens\u003c\/em\u003e, carry a fig like fruit eaten here for a very long time.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGroundcover and mass planting.\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant 50cm apart for quick cover. In warm weather the runners meet within a season, giving a continuous mat rather than separate rosettes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRetaining walls and slopes.\u003c\/strong\u003e Shallow spreading roots knit loose soil together, and stems given an edge to fall over will hang down and soften a hard wall top.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCoastal gardens and rockeries.\u003c\/strong\u003e Salt tolerance makes it one of the few plants that will hold a seaside slope, and among rocks the foliage reads as deliberate rather than weedy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing pigface in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun, always, in subtropical, warm temperate, Mediterranean and arid gardens. It takes light frost only, so hard frosting inland and cold southern districts will burn it back; there it is better in a raised pot near a warm wall.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e Drainage matters more than fertility, and sand, gravel or rocky ground is ideal. On heavy clay, plant on a raised mound with coarse sand worked through, because constantly wet soil rots the stems.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e Water weekly for the first six weeks, then leave it to the weather. Feeding is largely unnecessary, and a light sprinkle of native fertiliser in spring is the most it wants.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning.\u003c\/strong\u003e Trim runners back from paths whenever they overreach. After three or four years the centre of an old mat goes woody and bare, so cut those patches out and let surrounding stems refill them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePigface is grown here in tube stock. Each tube holds a small rooted plant, often only a few segments of stem, and it looks slight in the hand. It does not stay that way: in warm weather a tube can put out 30cm of runner in a month.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSucculent stems travel well and shrug off a few days in a box. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95, under our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRead our guide to the \u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/the-best-plants-for-coastal-gardeners-top-picks-for-2025\"\u003ebest plants for coastal gardens\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCompare options across the \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/groundcover\"\u003egroundcover range\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBrowse more \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coastal-salt-tolerant-plants\"\u003esalt tolerant plants\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSee the wider list of \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-safe-for-pets\"\u003eplants that are safe for pets\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow many plants do I need to cover an area?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt 50cm spacing you need four per square metre. On a bank you can stretch that to 70cm and wait an extra season for the runners to close.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCan you actually eat the fruit?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Australian coastal species carry a fleshy fruit that is genuinely edible, mildly sweet and a little salty. This is sold as a mixed species group, so confirm what you have before eating anything from it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWill it take over the garden?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt spreads steadily and will smother small neighbours, so keep it clear of delicate perennials. Runners are shallow rooted and lift off by hand, so it is easy to contain.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDoes it handle frost?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLight frost only. A short cold snap may mark the outer stems and they recover in spring, but repeated heavy frost will kill the plant outright.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"Tube (Backorder)","offer_id":51640459886911,"sku":"QLD-tube","price":16.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"140mm (Pack of 10)","offer_id":55100451520831,"sku":null,"price":159.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/Pigface-Carpobrotus-spp.jpg?v=1766223387"},{"product_id":"pigface-carpobrotus-aussie-rambler","title":"Pigface - Carpobrotus ‘Aussie Rambler’","description":"\u003cp\u003ePigface 'Aussie Rambler' (\u003cem\u003eCarpobrotus glaucescens\u003c\/em\u003e 'Aussie Rambler') is the groundcover for the spot nothing else will hold: hot, dry, sandy, salty or steep. It stays around 15cm high and spreads to about 2m, a thick mat of grey green succulent leaves studded with pink and purple daisy like flowers through the warm months. An Australian native, fast, and once down it needs almost nothing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIt covers ground quickly.\u003c\/strong\u003e Fast growing stems root as they run, so a planting closes over in a season rather than three.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSalt, sand and drought are no obstacle.\u003c\/strong\u003e Coastal and salt tolerant, comfortable in poor soil, and the fleshy leaves store enough water to ride out a dry summer.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNative, edible and good for bees.\u003c\/strong\u003e The fruit is traditional bush tucker, and the flowers bring in bees and butterflies through the warmer months.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSafe around pets.\u003c\/strong\u003e It is listed as pet friendly, so it suits a backyard where dogs run across it.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGroundcover and mass planting.\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant 60cm apart for quick cover. At that spacing the runners meet within a season in a warm garden, and the mat suppresses most weeds once it closes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCoastal gardens.\u003c\/strong\u003e Salt spray and sandy soil are its natural conditions, so it works where lawn and most shrubs give up.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRetaining walls, slopes and rockeries.\u003c\/strong\u003e The rooting stems bind loose soil on a batter, the trailing habit spills neatly over a wall edge, and between rocks it fills gaps unattended.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing Pigface in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun, always. Shade gives thin, stretched growth and few flowers. It suits subtropical, warm temperate, Mediterranean and arid gardens, and it takes light frost only, so hard frosting inland and cold southern districts will damage it over winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e Sandy or gravelly ground is ideal, and poor soil is fine. What it will not accept is heavy, wet clay, where the stems rot at the crown. On clay, plant on a raised mound with coarse sand or gravel through the bed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e Water weekly for the first two months to get roots down, then only in extended dry spells. Feeding is largely unnecessary, and rich soil produces soft growth that rots. A light dose of low phosphorus native fertiliser in spring is plenty.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning.\u003c\/strong\u003e Cut back stray runners at any time of year. If a patch goes woody and bare in the centre after several years, shear it hard and it will reshoot from the base.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTwo sizes are grown: tubes and 140mm pots in packs of ten. Tubes are small, usually a single rooted stem, and the economical way to cover a large area. Tube stock is currently on backorder, so allow extra time. The 140mm packs give a faster result and suit a wall edge or a rockery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSucculent plants travel well because the leaves carry their own moisture, though a few stems may snap in transit. They root again wherever they touch soil, so there is nothing to fix. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Expect visible spread within four to six weeks in warm weather, under our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/top-plants-for-ground-cover-a-guide-to-greenery\"\u003eChoosing ground cover plants\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/groundcover\"\u003eBrowse the groundcover range\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coastal-salt-tolerant-plants\"\u003eCoastal and salt tolerant plants\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-retaining-walls\"\u003ePlants for retaining walls and slopes\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow far apart should I plant it?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSixty centimetres apart for quick cover. In a warm garden with water through the first season the runners will meet and close over well within twelve months.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWill it take over the garden?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt spreads steadily and will run across a path if you let it, but the stems are shallow rooted and easy to pull back. Treat one edge trim a year as part of the deal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eIs the fruit really edible, and is the plant safe around dogs?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe fruit has long been eaten as bush tucker, with a salty, fig like flavour when fully ripe, so only eat fruit you have grown and not sprayed. It is also listed as pet friendly and takes animal foot traffic better than most groundcovers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"Tube (Backorder)","offer_id":51640461918527,"sku":"QLD-tube","price":16.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"140mm (Pack of 10)","offer_id":54140068200767,"sku":null,"price":201.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"200mm (Pack of 6)","offer_id":55100451750207,"sku":null,"price":217.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/Pigface-Carpobrotus-Aussie-Rambler.png?v=1766223391"},{"product_id":"pigface-mesembryanthemum-alba","title":"Pigface - Mesembryanthemum alba","description":"\u003cp\u003ePigface 'Alba' (\u003cem\u003eMesembryanthemum\u003c\/em\u003e 'Alba') is a succulent groundcover for the parts of a garden that defeat everything else: hot, sandy, salty, and watered only when it rains. It stays around 20cm high and spreads to about 1m, forming a thick mat of fleshy grey green leaves that opens into clean white flowers through the warm months. In a coastal or dry garden it covers ground without the input a lawn needs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIt thrives on neglect.\u003c\/strong\u003e Drought, heat, salt spray and poor sandy soil are normal conditions, so this is the plant for the strip nobody wants to maintain.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFast cover from small plants.\u003c\/strong\u003e The stems root as they run, so a tube plant spreads to cover its metre quickly and fills gaps by itself.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eClean white flowers over a long season.\u003c\/strong\u003e The blooms open in sun through spring and summer, sitting flat against the mat rather than above it.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eErosion control that looks deliberate.\u003c\/strong\u003e The mat holds sand and light soil on a slope, which is why it turns up on dune fronts.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBees and butterflies use it.\u003c\/strong\u003e The open flower shape gives easy access, so a large planting is busy on a warm morning.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCoastal gardens.\u003c\/strong\u003e Salt tolerant and built for sand, so it suits an exposed seaside front where irrigation is limited. Plant 50cm apart for a spreading groundcover.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRetaining walls, slopes and rockeries.\u003c\/strong\u003e It spills over a wall edge and knits across a batter, holding loose material. On a slope, stagger the rows at the same spacing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMass planting in dry beds.\u003c\/strong\u003e Run it through gravel mulch in a hot street front. At 50cm centres you need roughly four plants per square metre.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing pigface in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun, all day. Shade makes it thin, stretched and shy of flowering. It suits subtropical, warm temperate, Mediterranean and arid to semi arid gardens, which covers coastal Queensland and New South Wales, Perth, Adelaide and dry inland districts. It takes light frost only.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e Sandy and free draining is ideal, and poor soil is fine. Heavy clay is the one real limit, because the fleshy stems rot where water sits. On clay, mound the bed and mix through coarse sand and gravel.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e Water weekly through the first summer to establish, then leave it alone. Established plants need water only in a long drought, and overwatering does more damage than drought ever will.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning.\u003c\/strong\u003e Trim straggly runners at the edges once a year to keep the mat tight and stop it creeping into paths. If the centre of an old patch thins, cut it back hard and it regrows.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePigface is grown and sold as tube stock, so your plant will be small, usually a few fleshy stems 10cm to 15cm long. Succulent groundcovers are best bought young, because a small plant runs quicker than a larger pot recovering from transplanting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese plants travel well, since the leaves carry their own water, and some stem breakage is normal. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Expect visible spread within six weeks in warm weather and a closed cover through the second season. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/best-trailing-plants-for-retaining-wall\"\u003eTrailing plants for retaining walls and slopes\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/succulents\"\u003eBrowse the full succulent range\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-coastal-areas\"\u003eCompare plants for coastal and salt exposed gardens\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/rockery-plants\"\u003ePlants suited to rockeries and gravel beds\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs pigface an Australian native?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot this one. The name pigface covers both an African group and the Australian \u003cem\u003eCarpobrotus\u003c\/em\u003e species, and this plant is listed under the African name. If you want the native, look for a Carpobrotus.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow far apart should I plant it?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFifty centimetres apart, staggered. Each plant spreads to about 1m, so the mats overlap and close the ground within a season or two in warm weather.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I walk on it?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo, it is not a lawn substitute. The stems are brittle and crush underfoot, so use it in beds, on banks and over walls rather than on a path or play area.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"Tube","offer_id":51643704279359,"sku":"QLD-tube","price":22.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/Pigface-Mesembryanthemum-alba.png?v=1766223885"},{"product_id":"pigface-mesembryanthemum-species","title":"Pigface - Mesembryanthemum species","description":"\u003cp\u003ePigface (\u003cem\u003eMesembryanthemum\u003c\/em\u003e species) is the succulent groundcover to reach for when a bank, a rockery or a hot coastal verge has beaten everything else. It stays under 20cm tall and spreads to about a metre, laying down a dense mat of fleshy leaves that holds soil in place. Through the warmer months it covers itself in daisy like flowers in pink and magenta, and it does all of this on almost no water.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIt thrives where nothing else will.\u003c\/strong\u003e Drought, heat, salt and poor sandy soil are all handled, so the difficult strip beside a driveway is exactly its territory.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFast cover from small plants.\u003c\/strong\u003e Each plant spreads to about a metre, so a mat closes quicker than the small plant size suggests.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMonths of flower.\u003c\/strong\u003e Vivid pink to magenta blooms open with the sun through spring and summer, and bees work them hard.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIt holds a slope together.\u003c\/strong\u003e The shallow, matted roots knit across loose soil and reduce washing on banks and retaining walls.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSafe around pets.\u003c\/strong\u003e Not toxic to cats or dogs, which matters for a plant grown at ground level.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGroundcover and mass planting.\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant 50cm apart for quick groundcover. At that spacing a bed closes over in a single warm season, and weeds lose the bare ground they need.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCoastal gardens.\u003c\/strong\u003e Salt tolerant and happy in sand, so it suits front dunes, foreshore verges and any exposed seaside bed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRockeries, banks and retaining walls.\u003c\/strong\u003e Set plants 50cm apart along the top of a wall and let the growth spill over the face. On a slope it stabilises the surface and still looks deliberate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing pigface in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun, all day. Flowers only open properly in direct light, and shade makes the growth leggy. It suits subtropical, warm temperate, Mediterranean and arid or semi-arid gardens. It takes light frost only, so cold inland districts and hard frosting southern gardens will damage it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e Sharp drainage is the one real requirement. Sandy, gravelly and poor soils are ideal. On clay, raise the bed and mix through coarse sand or gravel, because sitting water rots the stems faster than any pest.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e Water weekly for the first six weeks to establish, then leave it alone except in extended dry spells. Feeding is rarely needed, and rich soil gives leaf at the expense of flower.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning.\u003c\/strong\u003e Trim back any patch that lifts or grows woody in the centre, usually after flowering. Pieces pulled off and pushed into damp soil root readily, so gaps are easy to patch.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe grow this pigface in one size, tube stock. Plants arrive small, a rooted rosette with a few fleshy stems, and that is the right way to buy a groundcover you need in quantity. Succulents travel well because the leaves carry their own water.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlant tubes at 50cm centres and expect them to touch within a season in warm weather. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBrowse the wider \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/groundcover\"\u003egroundcover range\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRead our picks for \u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/the-best-plants-for-coastal-gardeners-top-picks-for-2025\"\u003ecoastal gardens\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSee more \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-retaining-walls\"\u003eplants for retaining walls and slopes\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCompare it with the rest of our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/succulents\"\u003esucculent collection\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow many plants do I need?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt 50cm spacing you need roughly four plants per square metre. Stretch it to 70cm if you are willing to wait an extra season for full cover.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs it safe for pets?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Pigface is not toxic to cats or dogs, so it is a sound choice for a yard where animals dig and lie about.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWill it survive frost?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLight frost only. A few degrees below zero marks the leaves but the plant recovers; repeated hard frosts will kill it, so it is not one for the tablelands or cold inland gardens.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDoes it need much water once established?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVery little. After the first six weeks, natural rain is usually enough outside a long drought, and overwatering does more harm than going dry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"Tube (Backorder)","offer_id":51643706278207,"sku":"QLD-tube","price":22.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/Pigface-Mesembryanthemum-species.png?v=1766223887"},{"product_id":"pigface-mesembryanthemum-yellow","title":"Pigface - Mesembryanthemum yellow","description":"\u003cp\u003eYellow Pigface (\u003cem\u003eMesembryanthemum\u003c\/em\u003e sp.) is a low succulent groundcover that turns a hot, dry, useless patch of ground into a sheet of gold. It sits under 20cm tall and spreads to about a metre, and through the warm months it opens masses of bright yellow daisy like flowers whenever the sun is on it. Sand, salt, heat and drought are all part of the deal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eYellow reads from a distance.\u003c\/strong\u003e Brighter and more visible across a garden than the pink forms, which suits a bank or a long verge.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIt asks for nothing.\u003c\/strong\u003e Drought, heat, salt spray and poor sandy soil are all handled once the plant is established.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eQuick to cover ground.\u003c\/strong\u003e Fast growing and spreading to a metre each, so a bed fills in a season rather than three.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIt anchors loose soil.\u003c\/strong\u003e The matted surface roots knit across banks and slow erosion.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSafe around pets.\u003c\/strong\u003e Not toxic to cats or dogs, which matters for something planted at ground level.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRockeries and hot slopes.\u003c\/strong\u003e Tucked between rocks or spilling down a slope it looks at home, and a rockery gives the sharp drainage it wants.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGroundcover and mass planting.\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant 50cm apart for quick groundcover. That works out to about four plants per square metre, and a bed closes over in one warm season.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCoastal gardens and retaining walls.\u003c\/strong\u003e Salt tolerant enough for exposed seaside beds. Along the top of a wall, set plants 50cm back from the edge and let the growth trail over the face.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing yellow pigface in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun, all day. The flowers only open in direct light, so a shaded position gives you leggy growth and no display. It suits subtropical, warm temperate, Mediterranean and arid or semi-arid gardens. It takes light frost only, which rules out the tablelands and cold inland districts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e Free draining, and the poorer the better. Sand and gravel suit it. On clay, build the bed up and mix through coarse sand, because standing water rots the stems quickly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e Water weekly for the first six weeks, then leave it to the weather except in a long dry spell. Skip the fertiliser: rich ground produces soft leafy growth and fewer flowers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning.\u003c\/strong\u003e Cut back any section that grows woody or lifts away from the soil, ideally after flowering. Broken pieces pushed into damp soil strike readily, so patching bare spots costs nothing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe grow this one in two sizes: tube stock and 140mm pots in packs of ten. Tubes are the economical way to cover a large area; the 140mm plants get you to full cover a few months sooner. Both arrive as rooted rosettes with fleshy trailing stems.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSucculents are among the best travellers we send, since the leaves carry their own water. Plant at 50cm centres, water in, and expect plants to touch within a season in warm weather. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRead our guide to \u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/top-plants-for-ground-cover-a-guide-to-greenery\"\u003echoosing groundcover plants\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBrowse more \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/rockery-plants\"\u003erockery plants\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCompare options in our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coastal-salt-tolerant-plants\"\u003ecoastal and salt tolerant range\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMix it with the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/pigface-mesembryanthemum-species\"\u003epink flowering pigface\u003c\/a\u003e for a two tone mat.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs this the same as Australian native pigface?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. Pigface is a trade name covering several succulent genera. This is the South African ice plant group rather than the native Carpobrotus, though the two look similar and grow much the same way.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow many plants per square metre?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout four, at 50cm spacing. You can stretch to 70cm if you are covering a large area and can wait an extra season.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs it safe for pets?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. It is not toxic to cats or dogs, so it suits a yard where animals dig and lie about.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy is it not flowering?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlmost always too little sun, or too much water and feed. Move it into full sun and stop fertilising.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"Tube","offer_id":51643708014911,"sku":"QLD-tube","price":22.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100mm (Pack of 10)","offer_id":55100486975807,"sku":null,"price":92.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"140mm (Pack of 10)","offer_id":54140077670719,"sku":null,"price":181.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/Pigface-Mesembryanthemum-yellow.jpg?v=1766223890"},{"product_id":"red-pigface-mesembryanthemum-sp-red","title":"Red Pigface - Mesembryanthemum sp. (Red)","description":"\u003cp\u003eRed Pigface (\u003cem\u003eMesembryanthemum\u003c\/em\u003e sp.) is the succulent groundcover for the strip of garden nothing else will hold: hot, dry, sandy, salty or steeply sloped. It sits only about 20cm high and spreads to 1.5m, carpeting fast with fleshy blue green foliage, then covering itself in vivid red to pink daisy like flowers through the warm months. Once it is down, it needs almost nothing from you.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCovers ground quickly.\u003c\/strong\u003e Fast growing and low, so bare soil is hidden in a season or two rather than several years.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBuilt for hard sites.\u003c\/strong\u003e Drought tolerant, heat tolerant, salt tolerant and content in poor soil, which is a rare combination in a flowering plant.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eA long, loud flowering season.\u003c\/strong\u003e Red and pink blooms open through the warm months and close at night and in dull weather.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBees and butterflies find it.\u003c\/strong\u003e The open flowers are easy for pollinators to work, so it earns its place in a wildlife friendly garden.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGroundcover and mass planting.\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant 40cm apart for quick cover. At that spacing the mats knit together within a season or two without crowding into a thick, sour layer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSlopes and retaining walls.\u003c\/strong\u003e The shallow spreading roots bind loose soil on a batter, and the stems cascade neatly over a wall edge.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCoastal gardens and rockeries.\u003c\/strong\u003e Salt tolerance makes it a genuine front line plant, and it looks right threading between rocks and gravel.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing Red Pigface in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun, all day, or the mat opens up and the flowering drops away. It suits subtropical, warm temperate, Mediterranean, arid and cool temperate gardens, but it takes light frost only, so hard frosting inland and tableland districts will lose it in a bad winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e Sharp drainage matters more than fertility. Sand, gravel and poor rocky ground all suit it. On heavy clay, raise the bed and add coarse sand or scoria, because wet feet in winter is what kills this plant.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e Water weekly for the first six to eight weeks while it roots, then only in long dry spells. Feeding is largely unnecessary; a light application of slow release fertiliser in spring is plenty.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning.\u003c\/strong\u003e Shear back any straggly or woody sections in early spring to refresh the mat. Pieces that break off will strike readily where they land, which is a free way to patch gaps.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is sold as a tube, or as a pack of ten 140mm plants for anyone covering real area. Tubes are small and unremarkable in the hand, which is normal for a groundcover: the value is in how quickly they run once planted out. Ten 140mm plants at 40cm spacing will cover roughly 1.5 square metres to start with, filling out from there.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSucculent stems travel well but can arrive slightly bruised or with a leaf or two knocked off, which does not set the plant back. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBrowse the full \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/groundcover\"\u003egroundcover range\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCompare \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-coastal-areas\"\u003eplants for coastal gardens\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRead about \u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/best-trailing-plants-for-retaining-wall\"\u003etrailing plants for retaining walls\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSee more \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/rockery-plants\"\u003eplants for rockeries\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow far apart should I plant it?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eForty centimetres apart gives quick, even cover. Closer planting costs more and does not close the gaps much faster, since each plant runs 1.5m wide in time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs this the Australian native pigface?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. The species is not stated on the label, and red flowered trade pigface is usually a southern African Mesembryanthemum or Lampranthus type rather than the native Carpobrotus.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWill it survive frost?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLight frost only. It comes through a mild coastal or Mediterranean winter without trouble, but a hard inland frost will damage or kill it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I walk on it?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot really. The fleshy stems crush underfoot and are slow to recover, so keep it to beds, banks and rockeries rather than paths.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"Tube","offer_id":54737638097215,"sku":"QLD-tube","price":14.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100mm (Pack of 10)","offer_id":55100573614399,"sku":null,"price":104.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"140mm (Pack of 10)","offer_id":54737638129983,"sku":null,"price":174.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/red-pigface-mesembryanthemum-sp-red-ae82db.jpg?v=1785941191"},{"product_id":"ice-plant-mauve-mesembryanthemum-mauve","title":"Ice Plant Mauve - Mesembryanthemum 'Mauve'","description":"\u003cp\u003eIce Plant Mauve (\u003cem\u003eMesembryanthemum\u003c\/em\u003e 'Mauve') is the succulent carpet for the hot dry bank nothing else will hold. It sits about 15cm high and spreads to a metre, covering the ground in fleshy green fingers that flash open into mauve and pink daisy flowers through the warm months. Once it is established it asks for almost nothing, which is the point of planting it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIt covers ground fast.\u003c\/strong\u003e One metre of spread from each plant, so a bare slope closes over in a season rather than three.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDrought is its natural state.\u003c\/strong\u003e The leaves store their own water, so hot dry banks, rockeries and neglected strips suit it perfectly.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlowers that pull in pollinators.\u003c\/strong\u003e Mauve and pink blooms open in sunshine and bring bees and butterflies to the garden.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePoor soil is fine.\u003c\/strong\u003e Sand, gravel and thin coastal soil are all acceptable, and salt wind does not bother it.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGroundcover and mass planting.\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant 50cm apart, which works out at four plants per square metre. At that spacing the mat closes within a season in warm weather.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRetaining walls and slopes.\u003c\/strong\u003e The shallow root system knits the surface together and holds soil on a bank, and the stems trail neatly over the top of a wall.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRockeries and coastal gardens.\u003c\/strong\u003e It is at home between rocks, along a hot driveway edge or on a front line coastal block where salt spray rules out most groundcovers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing ice plant in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun, all day. It suits warm temperate, Mediterranean, subtropical and arid or semi-arid gardens. Light frost is tolerated once established, but a hard frost will turn the foliage to mush, so cool temperate gardens should look elsewhere.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e Free draining is not negotiable. Sandy and gravelly ground is ideal. On clay, raise the bed and add coarse sand or scoria, because the one thing that reliably kills this plant is wet feet in winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e Water weekly for the first two months to settle the roots, then only in extended dry spells. Feeding is optional and usually unnecessary. A light application of a general fertiliser in spring is more than enough.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning.\u003c\/strong\u003e Shear the mat back by about a third after flowering if it starts to build up woody centres. It reshoots readily, and the trimmings strike easily if you want more.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt comes as tube stock singly, or in 140mm pots in packs of ten. Tubes are the sensible choice for a large area because you need a lot of plants at 50cm spacing, and they catch up quickly. The 140mm plants are more established and give faster coverage for a small bank or a retaining wall top.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSucculents travel well, and a few bruised stems on arrival will not matter. Plant them slightly high rather than deep. Delivered Australia wide, delivery from $29.95. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/groundcover\"\u003eBrowse the full groundcover range\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/best-trailing-plants-for-retaining-wall\"\u003eBest trailing plants for a retaining wall\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/rockery-plants\"\u003eCompare rockery plants\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/drought-tolerant-plants\"\u003eMore drought tolerant plants\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow many plants do I need per square metre?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFour, planted 50cm apart in a staggered grid. That gives full cover in one warm season. Stretch it to 70cm if you are happy to wait longer and weed in the meantime.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I walk on it?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. The stems and leaves are brittle and crush underfoot, so this is a groundcover to look at rather than a lawn substitute. Use steppers if you need a path through it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWill it grow in shade?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot well. In shade it stretches, stops flowering and becomes prone to rot. Full sun for most of the day is what it needs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDoes it handle frost?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLight frost only, and only on an established plant. In a district with regular heavy frosts the foliage collapses and the plant often does not recover.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"Tube","offer_id":54737728635199,"sku":"QLD-tube","price":14.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100mm (Pack of 10)","offer_id":55100576203071,"sku":null,"price":92.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"140mm (Pack of 10)","offer_id":54737728667967,"sku":null,"price":188.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/ice-plant-mauve-mesembryanthemum-mauve-15028f.jpg?v=1785941000"},{"product_id":"ice-plant-magenta-mesembryanthemum-magenta","title":"Ice Plant Magenta - Mesembryanthemum 'Magenta'","description":"\u003cp\u003eIce Plant 'Magenta' (\u003cem\u003eMesembryanthemum\u003c\/em\u003e 'Magenta') is a succulent groundcover for the hot, dry, awkward parts of a garden. It sits only 20cm high but spreads to about 80cm across, and through the warmer months it covers itself in vivid magenta daisy like flowers. On a sunny bank or a coastal front garden it holds ground that most plants refuse.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIt covers ground quickly.\u003c\/strong\u003e Planted 40cm apart, the fleshy stems knit into a continuous mat within a season, which is fast for a succulent.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eColour you can see from the street.\u003c\/strong\u003e Magenta flowers open with the sun and close on dull days, heaviest through spring and summer, and bees and butterflies work them steadily.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIt thrives on neglect.\u003c\/strong\u003e Drought, heat, salt spray and poor sandy soil are all fine. Rich soil and regular watering are what shorten its life.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIt holds a slope.\u003c\/strong\u003e Shallow fibrous roots bind loose surface soil on banks and above retaining walls, where mowing or weeding is awkward.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGroundcover and mass planting.\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant 40cm apart, roughly six plants per square metre. The mat closes faster than at wider spacing, which leaves bare soil open to weeds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCoastal gardens.\u003c\/strong\u003e Salt tolerant and wind hardy, so it suits front gardens, dune edges and exposed verges where sand blows through.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSlopes and retaining walls.\u003c\/strong\u003e Set plants along the top of a wall and let the stems spill over the face, or use them to hold a bank too steep to mow.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing Ice Plant 'Magenta' in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun, all day, is the one condition it will not negotiate on. It suits warm temperate, subtropical, Mediterranean and arid gardens. It takes light frost only, so in cool inland and tableland districts grow it in a pot that can move under cover.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e Sharp drainage is the whole game. Sandy and gravelly soils are ideal, and on clay it needs a raised mound with coarse sand or gravel worked through. Do not enrich the soil.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e Water weekly through the first summer to settle the roots, then rainfall covers it in most seasons. Heavy fertiliser produces soft growth at the expense of flowers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning.\u003c\/strong\u003e Shear the whole planting back by about a third after the main flush. That stops the centre going woody and bare, which is the usual reason an older patch looks thin.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt comes in two sizes: tube stock, and 140mm pots in packs of ten. Tubes are the sensible choice for a large bank, since they establish quickly and the cost per square metre is low. The 140mm plants are already branching and give visible cover in the first season.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSucculent cuttings travel well, though a few leaves may drop in transit and some stems can look tired for a week. Plant into dry soil, water once, then leave it alone for a fortnight. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCompare options in the full \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/groundcover\"\u003egroundcover range\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSee what else suits a seaside block in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-coastal-areas\"\u003eplants for coastal areas\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRead about \u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/best-trailing-plants-for-retaining-wall\"\u003etrailing plants for retaining walls\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBrowse companions in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/rockery-plants\"\u003erockery plants\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow many plants do I need per square metre?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout six at the recommended 40cm spacing. Closer planting does not close the gap much faster and wastes plants, while wider spacing leaves soil open to weeds for longer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWill it survive frost?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLight frost only. A heavy or repeated frost turns the fleshy leaves to mush, so cool temperate and frosty inland gardens should treat it as a pot plant that shelters in winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I walk on it?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. The stems are brittle and snap underfoot, so keep it out of paths and use stepping stones if you need to cross a planted area.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"Tube","offer_id":54737745871167,"sku":"QLD-tube","price":14.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"140mm (Pack of 10)","offer_id":54737745903935,"sku":null,"price":159.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/ice-plant-magenta-mesembryanthemum-magenta-53b9a7.jpg?v=1785940997"},{"product_id":"mauve-ice-plant-mesembryanthemum-crystallinum-mauve","title":"Mauve Ice Plant - Mesembryanthemum crystallinum 'Mauve'","description":"\u003cp\u003eMauve Ice Plant (\u003cem\u003eMesembryanthemum crystallinum\u003c\/em\u003e 'Mauve') is a low succulent groundcover that sits about 15cm high and spreads to 80cm across, carrying daisy shaped mauve and pink flowers through the warm months. The fleshy leaves store their own water, so it holds a hot dry bank where lawn and most groundcovers give up.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eColour on ground that grows nothing.\u003c\/strong\u003e Baked verges, gravel edges and west facing slopes are exactly where it flowers hardest.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIt asks for almost no water.\u003c\/strong\u003e Drought and heat tolerant once established, so it keeps going through a dry summer with no irrigation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePoor soil and salt are fine.\u003c\/strong\u003e Sand, gravel and thin soil suit it, and salt laden coastal wind does not burn the foliage.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFast to cover.\u003c\/strong\u003e Planted 40cm apart it knits into a continuous mat within a season.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGroundcover and mass planting.\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant 40cm apart for quick cover, about six plants to the square metre. Use it along driveway edges, around letterboxes and across the dry strip beside a path.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRetaining walls and slopes.\u003c\/strong\u003e It trails over the top of a wall and knits the surface of a bank together, reducing wash on bare slopes in heavy rain.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCoastal gardens and rockeries.\u003c\/strong\u003e Salt tolerance and shallow roots make it a natural for gravel gardens and the pockets between rocks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing mauve ice plant in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun, all day. It suits Mediterranean, warm temperate, subtropical and arid gardens. It takes light frost only, so in cold inland and southern districts treat it as a warm season plant or grow it in a pot under cover.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e Sharp drainage is the only real requirement. Sandy and gravelly soils are ideal, and poor soil produces tighter, better flowering growth than rich soil. On clay, plant into a raised bed with coarse sand through it. Skip heavy mulch, which holds moisture against the stems.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e Water weekly for the first six weeks while roots take hold, then leave it alone except in extreme heat. Overwatering is the most common way to lose it, and feeding only produces soft, floppy growth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning.\u003c\/strong\u003e Shear the mat back by about a third once flowering finishes to keep it dense. If a patch goes woody in the centre, pull it out and replant, since pieces strike readily.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt comes as tube stock or in packs of ten 140mm pots. Tubes are small rooted cuttings and the economical choice for covering a large area, usually flowering in their first full summer. The 140mm plants are further along and start spreading within weeks of planting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSucculents travel well, though a bruised leaf or two can simply be removed. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Water once at planting, then hold off for a week to let any damaged tissue seal. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/top-plants-for-ground-cover-a-guide-to-greenery\"\u003eA guide to choosing groundcover plants\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/best-trailing-plants-for-retaining-wall\"\u003eTrailing plants for retaining walls\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/groundcover\"\u003eBrowse the groundcover range\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coastal-salt-tolerant-plants\"\u003eCompare salt tolerant coastal plants\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow many plants do I need?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt 40cm spacing, about six plants per square metre. A pack of ten 140mm plants covers roughly one and a half square metres once grown together.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWill it survive frost?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLight frost only. An occasional cold morning is survivable, but repeated hard frosts turn the foliage to mush. In cold districts use it in pots that can be moved.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow often should I water it?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWeekly for the first six weeks, then rarely. Established plants get through a normal summer on rainfall alone, and constant watering rots the stems at soil level.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eDoes it spread where I do not want it?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt creeps outward at the edges rather than seeding through the garden, so it stays controllable. Trim the perimeter once or twice a year to hold the line.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp data-nnm=\"wa-weed-warning\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWestern Australia: this plant is listed as an environmental weed in WA, where it escapes from gardens into bushland. We do not recommend it for WA gardens. Please choose a local alternative.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"Tube","offer_id":54737814290751,"sku":"QLD-tube","price":14.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"140mm (Pack of 10)","offer_id":54737814323519,"sku":null,"price":191.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/mauve-ice-plant-mesembryanthemum-crystallinum-mauve-dccad4.jpg?v=1785941094"},{"product_id":"round-leaf-pigface-disphyma-crassifolium","title":"Round-Leaf Pigface - Disphyma crassifolium","description":"\u003cp\u003eRound-Leaf Pigface (\u003cem\u003eDisphyma crassifolium\u003c\/em\u003e) is the succulent native groundcover for the spots nothing else will hold: dry sandy banks, exposed coastal edges and hot gravel beds. It grows only about 15cm high but spreads to roughly 1.2m across, laying down a dense mat of plump green foliage that flushes pink and purple with daisy like flowers in spring. Planted 50cm apart it closes over quickly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReal coastal toughness.\u003c\/strong\u003e Salt spray, sand and sea wind are its natural conditions, so a front line dune or beachside verge suits it.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFast, low cover.\u003c\/strong\u003e A dense mat at 15cm high, so it suppresses weeds without ever needing to be cut back off a path.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBright flowering.\u003c\/strong\u003e Pink and purple flowers open across the mat, and bees and butterflies work them heavily.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAlmost nothing to do.\u003c\/strong\u003e Frost hardy, heat tolerant, drought tolerant and content in poor soil, with no feeding or pruning routine to keep.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGroundcover and mass planting.\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant 50cm apart for quick cover. At that spacing the mats knit within a season in a warm position, and a little wider is fine if you are patient.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRetaining walls and slopes.\u003c\/strong\u003e The stems root as they run, which is what makes it useful for binding a bank or spilling over a wall where mowing is not an option.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCoastal gardens and rockeries.\u003c\/strong\u003e It takes salt, sand and reflected heat, so it works between rocks, along gravel edges and in beds that irrigation never reaches properly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing Round-Leaf Pigface in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun, always. It grows across subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate, Mediterranean and arid gardens, and is frost hardy once established. In shade it stretches, thins out and barely flowers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e Sandy or gravelly ground is ideal and poor soil is no problem, but drainage is not negotiable. On clay, plant into a raised bed or a mound with coarse sand or gravel worked through.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e Water weekly for the first six to eight weeks to root it in, then leave it alone except in prolonged drought. Fertiliser is unnecessary and encourages soft growth that rots.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning.\u003c\/strong\u003e None needed. Trim runners back at the edges when it reaches where you want it to stop, and lift and replant a few rooted pieces if a patch thins out.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is grown as tubestock, which is the sensible format for a groundcover because you are buying by the number of plants rather than by size. Each one arrives as a small rooted piece with a few succulent stems, and it will look modest in the bed for the first month.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSucculent foliage travels well, and the odd broken stem simply strikes where it lands. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee. Expect visible spread within six to eight weeks in warm weather and full cover in a season.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/groundcover\"\u003eBrowse the full groundcover range\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coastal-salt-tolerant-plants\"\u003eCompare coastal and salt tolerant plants\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/succulents\"\u003eMore succulents for hot dry positions\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/best-trailing-plants-for-retaining-wall\"\u003eTrailing plants for a retaining wall\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow many plants do I need?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt 50cm spacing you need roughly four plants per square metre. Stretching to 60cm cuts the plant count by about a third and adds a season before the ground is covered.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWill it survive on a coastal front block?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. It is a native coastal mat plant, so salt spray, sand and wind are its normal conditions rather than a stress it merely tolerates.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow much water does it need once established?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVery little. After the first couple of months it can be left to natural rainfall in most gardens, and overwatering in heavy soil is the main way it is lost.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"Tube","offer_id":54737999790399,"sku":"QLD-tube","price":17.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"140mm (Pack of 10)","offer_id":55100589310271,"sku":null,"price":159.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/round-leaf-pigface-disphyma-crassifolium-b95197.jpg?v=1785941205"},{"product_id":"pigface-pink-dwarf-mesembryanthemum-pink-dwarf","title":"Pigface Pink Dwarf - Mesembryanthemum 'Pink Dwarf'","description":"\u003cp\u003ePigface Pink Dwarf (\u003cem\u003eMesembryanthemum\u003c\/em\u003e 'Pink Dwarf') is a succulent groundcover for the places nothing else wants: hot, dry, sandy, salty and steep. It sits about 15cm high and spreads to a metre or more, covering itself in bright pink daisy like flowers through the warm months. Once it is down, it holds soil, smothers weeds and asks for almost no water.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIt covers ground fast.\u003c\/strong\u003e Fleshy stems root as they run, so a planting closes over in a season rather than sitting in bare mulch for years.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlowers in bright pink.\u003c\/strong\u003e The blooms open through the warm months and are worked steadily by bees and butterflies.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAlmost no water needed.\u003c\/strong\u003e The leaves store their own moisture, which makes it one of the few things that looks alive through a hot dry summer.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBuilt for coastal and poor ground.\u003c\/strong\u003e Salt tolerant, heat tolerant and happy in sand or thin soil where a lawn or standard groundcover fails.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGroundcover and mass planting.\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant 40cm apart for quick cover. At that spacing the plants meet in one warm season and the spread keeps creeping outward with age.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRetaining walls and slopes.\u003c\/strong\u003e The stems trail over an edge and root into the face of a batter, which holds soil on a slope that is awkward to mow or maintain.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRockeries and coastal gardens.\u003c\/strong\u003e Sharp drainage and reflected heat around rock and paving suit it, and salt laden wind does not mark the foliage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing Pigface Pink Dwarf in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun. It grows in warm temperate, subtropical, Mediterranean and arid to semi-arid gardens. It takes light frost only, so cold inland districts and the tablelands will lose it in a hard winter. In shade it stretches, flowers poorly and rots.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e Free draining and poor is exactly right. Sand, gravel and thin rocky soil all work. On clay, plant on a raised mound and add coarse sand, because sitting wet is the one thing that kills it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e Water weekly for the first six weeks to settle the roots, then almost never. Skip the fertiliser; rich feeding produces soft leggy growth and fewer flowers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning.\u003c\/strong\u003e Trim back straggly or woody sections in early spring and the plant reshoots from the base. Pieces pulled off strike readily if you want to extend the planting for nothing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is sold in one size, tubestock. Each plant is small, usually a few fleshy stems in a tube, which is normal for a groundcover of this type and is why they are bought by the tray for a bank or a bed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSucculents travel well and arrive in good condition, though a stem or two may snap in transit; push the pieces into the soil and they will root. Plant into ground that is already weed free, water in, then leave it alone. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/groundcover\"\u003eBrowse the full groundcover range\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-retaining-walls\"\u003ePlants for retaining walls and slopes\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/succulents\"\u003eCompare other succulents\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-coastal-areas\"\u003ePlants for coastal and exposed gardens\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow many plants do I need?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt 40cm spacing, roughly six plants per square metre. Wider spacing still works and costs less, it just takes an extra season to close over.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWill it survive frost?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLight frost only. An occasional touch of frost causes some damage that grows out, but a district with regular hard frosts will kill it outright. Choose a hardier groundcover for cold inland gardens.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs this an Australian native pigface?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. This is an African mesembryanthemum sold under the pigface name. It behaves the same way in the garden, but if you specifically want the native coastal species, look for a \u003cem\u003eCarpobrotus\u003c\/em\u003e instead.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"Tube","offer_id":54741416018239,"sku":"QLD-tube","price":14.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"140mm (Pack of 10)","offer_id":55100591538495,"sku":null,"price":159.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/pigface-pink-dwarf-mesembryanthemum-pink-dwarf-12a077.jpg?v=1785941157"},{"product_id":"pigface-deep-mauve-mesembryanthemum-deep-mauve","title":"Pigface Deep Mauve - Mesembryanthemum 'Deep Mauve'","description":"\u003cp\u003ePigface Deep Mauve (\u003cem\u003eMesembryanthemum\u003c\/em\u003e 'Deep Mauve') is the groundcover for the hot, dry, sandy corner where nothing else will hold. It sits about 200mm high and spreads to a metre across, forming a succulent mat that smothers itself in mauve and pink daisy like flowers through spring. Once the roots are down it lives on rainfall in most warm gardens.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIt covers ground quickly.\u003c\/strong\u003e A single plant reaches a metre across, so at 40cm spacing the mat closes over in a season rather than three.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eA serious spring flower display.\u003c\/strong\u003e Mauve to pink blooms open with the sun and close on dull days, which is normal succulent behaviour and not a fault.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIt thrives on neglect.\u003c\/strong\u003e Drought, heat, salt spray and poor soil are all handled without complaint once established.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIt holds a slope.\u003c\/strong\u003e The fleshy stems root as they run, binding loose soil on embankments and spilling over the top of a retaining wall.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGroundcover and mass planting.\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant 40cm apart for a dense mat. It needs no mowing or edging once closed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCoastal gardens.\u003c\/strong\u003e Salt tolerance means it holds up on front dunes, exposed nature strips and beach house verges where lawn burns off.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRockeries, retaining walls and slopes.\u003c\/strong\u003e Set it at the top of a wall and let it cascade, or thread it between rocks where drainage is sharp.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing pigface in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun, six hours minimum. It suits warm temperate, Mediterranean, arid and semi-arid and subtropical gardens. It takes light frost only, so in cold inland districts, the tablelands and hard frosting southern gardens the growing tips burn off in winter. Grow it in a pot under eaves there instead.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e Free draining sand, gravel or a raised bed. Heavy wet clay will rot the crown, so mound the bed and work coarse sand and gravel through it. Rich soil is unnecessary and does more harm than good.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e Water weekly for the first two to three months, then only in extended dry spells. A light scatter of controlled release fertiliser in early spring is plenty. Overfeeding produces soft leggy stems and fewer flowers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning.\u003c\/strong\u003e Shear the mat back by about a third after flowering to keep it tight and stop the centre going woody. Trimmed pieces strike readily pushed straight back into damp soil.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis one is grown in tube stock, currently sold on backorder. A tube is a small rooted plant only a few centimetres across, which is the right way to buy a groundcover: you need numbers, and tubes establish faster than larger pots.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSucculents travel well because the leaves carry their own water. Plant within a few days of arrival, water in once, then leave it alone. Expect it to run over its first square metre within a season. Delivered Australia wide, delivery from $29.95, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/groundcover\"\u003eBrowse the full groundcover range\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/the-world-of-succulents-a-must-have-guide-for-garden-lovers\"\u003eHow to grow succulents in Australian gardens\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/rockery-plants\"\u003eCompare rockery plants\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coastal-salt-tolerant-plants\"\u003eSalt tolerant plants for coastal blocks\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow many plants do I need per square metre?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt 40cm spacing you need about six plants per square metre. Wider spacing still works on a slope, it just takes an extra season to close over.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs this the same as the native pigface?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. Australian pigface is \u003cem\u003eCarpobrotus\u003c\/em\u003e; this is an African relative selected for flower colour. It behaves the same way in the garden but should not be described as a native.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWill it cope with frost?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLight frost only. A heavy frost blackens the exposed growth, and while the plant often reshoots in spring it will look rough all winter. Cold districts are better served by a hardier groundcover.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I grow it in a pot?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, and it is an easy container plant. Use a cactus and succulent mix in a pot with a drainage hole, let it trail over the rim, and keep it out of saucers of standing water.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"Tube (Backorder)","offer_id":54741444985151,"sku":"QLD-tube","price":14.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/pigface-deep-mauve-mesembryanthemum-deep-mauve-7a40de.jpg?v=1785941154"},{"product_id":"pigface-so-mauve-mesembryanthemum-so-mauve","title":"Pigface So Mauve - Mesembryanthemum 'So Mauve'","description":"\u003cp\u003ePigface 'So Mauve' (\u003cem\u003eMesembryanthemum\u003c\/em\u003e 'So Mauve') is a succulent mat forming groundcover that covers hard, hot, dry ground where little else will hold. It stays around 20cm high and spreads to 80cm, and in spring the whole mat disappears under mauve daisy like flowers. Planted 40cm apart it closes into dense cover within a season. This is the South African plant sold under the trade name pigface, not the Australian native.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIt thrives on neglect.\u003c\/strong\u003e Drought tolerant, heat tolerant and happy in poor soil, so a dry verge or a gravel bank suits it better than a pampered garden bed.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpring flowers in quantity.\u003c\/strong\u003e Mauve blooms cover the foliage for several weeks and bring bees and butterflies onto the planting.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCoastal proof.\u003c\/strong\u003e Salt tolerant and unbothered by exposure, which makes it a genuine option for a beachfront bank or a dune style garden.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFast cover.\u003c\/strong\u003e Fleshy stems run out and root as they go, so 40cm spacing fills in quickly and shades out weed seedlings.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSlopes and retaining walls.\u003c\/strong\u003e The rooting stems bind loose soil on a batter, and the mat spills over the top of a wall in a soft curtain. This is the use it is best at.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRockeries and gravel gardens.\u003c\/strong\u003e Sharp drainage between stones is exactly what it wants, and the succulent foliage sits well against rock.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMass planting and coastal beds.\u003c\/strong\u003e Set 40cm apart, about six plants to the square metre, for continuous cover across an exposed bed or a coastal front garden.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing Pigface in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun, all day. The flowers only open in bright light, and shade gives lank growth with almost no bloom. It suits warm temperate, subtropical, Mediterranean and arid districts. It takes light frost only, so cool temperate and frost prone inland gardens are not the right home.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e Sharp drainage is the whole story. Sand, gravel and poor stony ground all work. Heavy wet clay will rot the stems, so build up the bed or mound the planting area if that is what you have.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e Water weekly for the first six weeks, then rarely. Established plants get by on rainfall in most districts. Skip fertiliser almost entirely, since rich soil produces soft growth and fewer flowers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMaintenance.\u003c\/strong\u003e Trim the mat back with shears after flowering to keep it tidy and encourage fresh growth from the base. If the centre thins with age, pull up rooted runners and replant them into the gap.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is sold as tube stock and in 140mm pots in packs of ten. Tubes are small rooted cuttings and the economical option for a big area. The pack of ten covers about 1.6 square metres at 40cm spacing, and those plants are further along.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSucculent stems are brittle, so a few broken tips in transit are normal and do not affect establishment. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/best-trailing-plants-for-retaining-wall\"\u003eTrailing plants for retaining walls and banks\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/groundcover\"\u003eBrowse the full groundcover range\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coastal-salt-tolerant-plants\"\u003eSee salt tolerant plants for coastal gardens\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/rockery-plants\"\u003eCompare plants suited to rockeries\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow far apart should I plant it?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eForty centimetres apart, roughly six plants to the square metre. At that spacing the runners meet within a season, and the cover is dense enough to keep most weeds down.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I walk on it?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. The stems are succulent and brittle, and they crush rather than spring back. Run steppers or a path through anywhere you need to cross.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eIs this the Australian native pigface?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. Pigface is a trade name here; this selection is African. It behaves much the same way in the garden, but it is not a native plant.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWill it survive frost?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLight frost only. An occasional cold morning is tolerated, but repeated hard frost damages the fleshy stems, so cold districts should choose a hardier groundcover.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"Tube (Backorder)","offer_id":54742685122879,"sku":"QLD-tube","price":14.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"140mm (Pack of 10)","offer_id":54742685155647,"sku":null,"price":159.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/pigface-so-mauve-mesembryanthemum-so-mauve-0b1b07.jpg?v=1785941159"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/collections\/pigface-collection.jpg?v=1790859011","url":"https:\/\/nurserynearme.com.au\/collections\/pigface.oembed","provider":"Nursery Near Me","version":"1.0","type":"link"}