Pig Face Plant Care Cut off spent flowers and damaged or drying leaves. Prune well in Winter to promote an abundance of Spring growth. Watch out for snails as they can be a problem. Ensure that your drainage is good to prevent root rot.

Does pig face spread?

Native to Southern Africa, Pig Face is used to growing in dry, rocky and sandy conditions which makes it very tolerant to drought, salt and wind. Its succulent foliage will form a dense and spreading mat, growing to no more than 15cm high and around 40cm wide.

Can you take cuttings from pigface plants anytime?

The best time of year to take pigface cuttings is summer. Simply pinch off a tip cutting about 10cm (4″) long. Plant the cutting directly into a pot with quality potting mix.

How do you take cuttings from a pigface?

Cut the length of pigface runner between each leaf node. Fill a tube with potting mix, and bury the pigface stem just below the surface. Firm the soil around the cutting. Place the tubes containing pigface in water for the first week then allow the water level to fall below the tubes.

Is pig face plant native to Australia?

Carpobrotus (pigface) is a world-wide genus of succulent plants, with species native to South Africa, Australia, South America and California. In South Australia there are four species of Carpobrotus and two species in a closely related genus Sarcozona.

How wide does pigface grow?

It grows about 20cm high and stretches about 2m wide. It is very good for rockeries, mass plantings or as a sand dune stabiliser. It tolerates frost, drought, humidity and salt.

Why is pigface called pigface?

Carpobrotus, commonly known as pigface, ice plant, sour fig, Hottentot fig, and clawberry is a genus of ground-creeping plants with succulent leaves and large daisy-like flowers. The name comes from the Ancient Greek karpos “fruit” and brotos “edible”, referring to its edible fruits.

Is pigface a good ground cover?

All parts of the plant are edible, but the leaves are highly coveted for their fleshy texture and salty flavour. This succulent ground cover tolerates salt, frost and drought. It’s also adaptable to a wide range of soil types, provided they are well-drained.

Can you eat pigface leaves?

Interesting Facts about Pigface



Pigface produces bright purple, daisy-like flowers and reddish purple fruit that tastes like a fig. The flowers, fruit and the leaves are edible but the fruit is the most delicious part of the plant, and the part most often enjoyed by Indigenous Australians.

Can dogs eat pig face plant?

Every part of this plant is edible and/or medicinal – the leaves can be used like aloe vera to lessen stings and burns of the skin, as well as eaten raw or cooked.

Is pig face plant poisonous?

The delicious red fruits are safe to eat. The name, Carpobrotus, refers to the edible fruits – coming from the Ancient Greek karpos “fruit” and brotos “edible”. Pigface was harvested and used a lot by indigenous Australians both as food and medicine. Early European explorers used the plant as an anti-scurvy treatment.

Does pigface attract bees?

Well, this Pigface which we assume is Carpobrotus glaucescens, has turned out to be an absolute stunner. It seems to thrive on neglect, and grows enthusiastically in the worst conditions, but the thing that surprised us the most is its attractiveness to native bees.

Will pigface grow in clay soil?

Maintaining Aussie Rambler™ Carpobrotus

How do you propagate Hottentot figs?

Stem cutting is the fastest way to propagate this fast growing plant. Seeds are also available and you may start them indoors at least six weeks before the date of the last frost. Hottentot fig is a perennial plant in its chosen zones but also thrives as an annual in colder areas.

How long does pigface flower for?

The plant produces large, striking, deep pink-purple daisy-like flowers from October to January, but also can flower sporadically throughout the year.

Are all pigface edible?

The flowers, fruit and the leaves are edible but the fruit is the most delicious part of the plant, and the part most often enjoyed by Indigenous Australians. The leaves are nice and salty and Indigenous Australians have been said to enjoy the cooked leaves as a side to meat.

Does pigface attract bees?

Well, this Pigface which we assume is Carpobrotus glaucescens, has turned out to be an absolute stunner. It seems to thrive on neglect, and grows enthusiastically in the worst conditions, but the thing that surprised us the most is its attractiveness to native bees.