Carpobrotus deliciosus (L. Bolus) L.Bolus
delicious sour fig, sweet sour fig · suurvy, perdevy (Afr.)
Spreading sour fig with purple-pink (sometimes white) flowers in late winter and spring, and tasty edible fruit (deliciosus says it all).
What’s in the name: Carpobrotus: Greek for "edible fruit"; deliciosus: "delicious".
“Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof”
— Proverbs 27:18 (KJV), The King James Version of the Bible (Project Gutenberg)
Available from AVNPlants: see the availability list.
Family
Aizoaceae
Conservation status
Least Concern, SANBI Red List of South African Plants
Natural distribution & habitat
Western and Eastern Cape from the Riversdale area to southern KwaZulu-Natal, on dunes and rocky grassland in mild climates.
Size & form
Low succulent, 10–20 cm tall; the long, stout runners root at each node. Three-angled leaves; flowers 60–80 mm across.
Flowering
June to October.
Uses in landscaping
- Groundcover that fully covers soil
- Drought resistant once established; frost-free or coastal gardens only
Care notes
Sandy, well-drained soil; keep cuttings moist but never waterlogged. Grow from tip cuttings, rooted side shoots or seed. Damaged below about 1 °C.
Wildlife value
Nectar for honeybees and other insects; animals eat the fruit and tortoises eat the leaves.
Find out more
Facts checked against: SANBI PlantZAfrica species page 'Carpobrotus deliciosus'; SANBI Red List of South African Plants, Carpobrotus deliciosus (L.Bolus) L.Bolus (assessment 2005/07/07).