Pigface

Pigface (Carpobrotus 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.

Why you'll love it

• It covers ground fast. The fleshy stems root where they touch soil, so cover spreads outward from every plant rather than waiting on a single crown.
• Salt, heat and drought are all fine. This is why it grows on front dunes with no help from anyone.
• Poor soil suits it. Sand, gravel and thin fill are its natural ground. Rich, heavily fed beds give soft growth and fewer flowers.
• Safe around pets. Not toxic to cats or dogs, which matters in a groundcover a dog will walk straight across.
• Edible fruit on the native species. Australian coastal species in this group, such as Carpobrotus glaucescens, carry a fig like fruit eaten here for a very long time.

Where it works best

Groundcover and mass planting. Plant 50cm apart for quick cover. In warm weather the runners meet within a season, giving a continuous mat rather than separate rosettes.

Retaining walls and slopes. Shallow spreading roots knit loose soil together, and stems given an edge to fall over will hang down and soften a hard wall top.

Coastal gardens and rockeries. 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.

Growing pigface in Australia

Position and climate. 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.

Soil. 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.

Water and feed. 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.

Pruning. 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.

What to expect when it arrives

Pigface 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.

Succulent 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.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Read our guide to the best plants for coastal gardens.
• Compare options across the groundcover range.
• Browse more salt tolerant plants.
• See the wider list of plants that are safe for pets.

Common questions

How many plants do I need to cover an area?

At 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.

Can you actually eat the fruit?

The 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.

Will it take over the garden?

It 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.

Does it handle frost?

Light 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.