Pale Pink Pigface

Pale Pink Pigface (Mesembryanthemum) is a low, carpet-forming succulent about 30cm tall that spreads to 1.5m wide, with slender fleshy leaves and large, satiny, light pink daisy flowers. The flowers are bigger than you would expect for its size, and the plant needs almost nothing to look good. It is a lovely soft colour for rockeries, banks and dry gardens.

Why you'll love it

• Large light pink flowers. Starry, satiny daisies in a pale pink open wide for such a small plant.
• Thin leaves that thread through. Mesembryanthemum ice plants have slightly more slender leaves than the Carpobrotus types, so they weave around larger plants easily.
• Lives on very little water. Hardy and drought tolerant once established.
• Takes sea spray. It does not mind being battered by salty wind, which opens up exposed coastal sites.
• Low care. It needs almost nothing except perhaps an annual tidy up.

Where it works best

Rockeries and dry gardens. A soft pink mat among rocks or gravel brings gentle colour with almost no water.

Groundcover. Plant 60cm apart for cover within a season or two. The stems spread to about 1.5m while the plant stays low.

Pots, landscaping and xeriscaping. Spill it over a wall, a raised bed or a pot in full sun, or use it as a filler between larger plants.

Growing Pale Pink Pigface in Australia

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

Soil. Free-draining soil. It does well in dry, poor ground. Avoid wet spots and heavy clay.

Water and feed. Water until established, usually around 12 weeks. Once established, water when the soil is dry. Feeding is not needed.

Pruning. An annual tidy up is enough. Trim back straggly stems to keep the mat dense and the flowers coming.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Pale Pink 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 suit a big groundcover area, while the larger pots give an almost instant effect on a small bed or a slope. Plant out soon after arrival, water in well and keep the soil just moist until new growth appears.

Tube stock is supplied by our grower, and supply comes and goes. A sold out tube simply means the grower has none today, so press the notify button on the page and we will email you the day it is back.

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

• Pigface and ice plants
• Plants that suit rockeries
• Coastal and salt tolerant plants
• Best trailing plants for retaining walls

Common questions

Is it the same as the native pigface?

No. Mesembryanthemum ice plants come from South Africa. They have slightly more slender leaves than the native Carpobrotus types, which lets them thread around larger plants.

Will it cope with sea spray?

Yes. It does not mind being battered by sea spray, so it suits coastal and exposed gardens as well as inland rockeries.

How much water does it need?

Water until it is established, usually around 12 weeks, then only when the soil is dry. It survives on very little water once settled.