Orange Pigface

Orange Pigface (Mesembryanthemum) is a low, carpet-forming succulent that grows about 30cm tall and spreads up to 1.5m wide, with slender fleshy leaves and vivid orange daisy flowers. It is a hardy groundcover for sun, poor soil and dry gardens, with next to no demands once it is established.

Why you'll love it

• Vivid orange daisies. A mat of strong orange flowers brightens rockeries, banks and borders, and the blooms open freely in full sun.
• Spreads but stays low. Stems run outward while the plant stays at around 30cm, so it carpets bare ground without towering over neighbours.
• Hardy and drought tolerant. Once established it needs water only when the soil is dry, which makes it a natural for waterwise gardens.
• Suited to poor, dry soils. It performs in lean, free-draining ground where lawn and most perennials fail, and like other ice plants it takes sea spray.
• Very little care. Beyond watering in the first season and an occasional tidy, it looks after itself.

Where it works best

Groundcover. Plant 60cm apart to cover bare ground within a season or two. The stems spread to about 1.5m, so the plants knit together.

Rockeries and xeriscaping. Planted among rocks or gravel, it softens hard edges and gives colour with almost no water.

Pots and landscaping. Let it spill over the rim of a pot or the edge of a retaining wall, in full sun with free-draining mix.

Growing Orange Pigface in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun for maximum colour and a compact shape, with at least part of the day in sun. It suits subtropical, warm temperate, Mediterranean and arid or semi-arid climates. It is not rated for hard frost, so in cold gardens give it a sheltered spot.

Soil. Free-draining soil. Poor, dry and sandy ground is fine. Avoid heavy clay and wet spots.

Water and feed. Water until established, usually around 12 weeks, then water only when the soil is dry. Fertiliser is not needed.

Pruning. Tidy once a year, trimming any straggly stems back to keep the mat dense.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Orange Pigface as tube stock (a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly), in 140mm pots in packs of 10, in 200mm pots in packs of 6 and as single 300mm pots. Tubes are the economical way to cover a large area, the 140mm and 200mm pots give a head start on a bank or border, and the 300mm pot gives a near instant patch. Plant out soon after arrival and water in well.

Our tube stock is grown for us and is not always on the shelf. A tube marked sold out means the grower has none at the moment, and the notify button on the page will email you the day it returns.

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

• Browse our pigface range
• More groundcovers for sunny gardens
• Succulents for hot climates
• Top plants for ground cover: a guide to greenery

Common questions

Is this the native pigface?

No. These are Mesembryanthemum ice plants, which come from South Africa. They are neat, colourful and hardy, but they are not the Australian native Carpobrotus pigface.

How far apart should I plant it?

Plant 60cm apart for groundcover. With a mature spread of about 1.5m, the plants knit together within a season or two.

Can I grow it in a pot?

Yes. Use a free-draining mix in a sunny spot and let the stems spill over the rim. Water only when the mix is dry.