Pigface Deep Mauve

Pigface Deep Mauve (Mesembryanthemum '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.

Why you'll love it

• It covers ground quickly. A single plant reaches a metre across, so at 40cm spacing the mat closes over in a season rather than three.
• A serious spring flower display. Mauve to pink blooms open with the sun and close on dull days, which is normal succulent behaviour and not a fault.
• It thrives on neglect. Drought, heat, salt spray and poor soil are all handled without complaint once established.
• It holds a slope. The fleshy stems root as they run, binding loose soil on embankments and spilling over the top of a retaining wall.

Where it works best

Groundcover and mass planting. Plant 40cm apart for a dense mat. It needs no mowing or edging once closed.

Coastal gardens. Salt tolerance means it holds up on front dunes, exposed nature strips and beach house verges where lawn burns off.

Rockeries, retaining walls and slopes. Set it at the top of a wall and let it cascade, or thread it between rocks where drainage is sharp.

Growing pigface in Australia

Position and climate. 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.

Soil. 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.

Water and feed. 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.

Pruning. 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.

What to expect when it arrives

This 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.

Succulents 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.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the full groundcover range
• How to grow succulents in Australian gardens
• Compare rockery plants
• Salt tolerant plants for coastal blocks

Common questions

How many plants do I need per square metre?

At 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.

Is this the same as the native pigface?

No. Australian pigface is Carpobrotus; 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.

Will it cope with frost?

Light 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.

Can I grow it in a pot?

Yes, 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.