Pigface So Mauve

Pigface 'So Mauve' (Mesembryanthemum '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.

Why you'll love it

• It thrives on neglect. 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.
• Spring flowers in quantity. Mauve blooms cover the foliage for several weeks and bring bees and butterflies onto the planting.
• Coastal proof. Salt tolerant and unbothered by exposure, which makes it a genuine option for a beachfront bank or a dune style garden.
• Fast cover. Fleshy stems run out and root as they go, so 40cm spacing fills in quickly and shades out weed seedlings.

Where it works best

Slopes and retaining walls. 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.

Rockeries and gravel gardens. Sharp drainage between stones is exactly what it wants, and the succulent foliage sits well against rock.

Mass planting and coastal beds. Set 40cm apart, about six plants to the square metre, for continuous cover across an exposed bed or a coastal front garden.

Growing Pigface in Australia

Position and climate. 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.

Soil. 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.

Water and feed. 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.

Maintenance. 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.

What to expect when it arrives

It 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.

Succulent 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.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Trailing plants for retaining walls and banks
• Browse the full groundcover range
• See salt tolerant plants for coastal gardens
• Compare plants suited to rockeries

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it?

Forty 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.

Can I walk on it?

No. The stems are succulent and brittle, and they crush rather than spring back. Run steppers or a path through anywhere you need to cross.

Is this the Australian native pigface?

No. 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.

Will it survive frost?

Light frost only. An occasional cold morning is tolerated, but repeated hard frost damages the fleshy stems, so cold districts should choose a hardier groundcover.