Carpobrotus EDULIS

Carpobrotus EDULIS - Carpobrotus edulis.

"Living stones" seed series.

Carpobrotus is a genus of plants in the family Aizoaceae, comprising about 25 species. The native home of the vast majority of species is South Africa. Four species come from Australia, one species from South America, and one more from California and Oregon. Members of the genus are perennial creeping plants with juicy succulent leaves, large flowers resembling Asteraceae flower heads, and berry-like fruits. Carpobrotus species are capable of forming continuous vegetative carpets covering the soil.

Carpobrotus is a perennial succulent with a creeping branched stem up to 2 m (6.6 ft) in length. The root system is very dense, and the stems root at the nodes. The leaves are three-sided, fleshy, slightly rough, 4-10 cm (1.6-4 in) long and 5-12 mm (0.2-0.5 in) wide. In shape, they are elongated, slightly pointed at the ends. The leaf color is bright green, reddish along the edges. The flowers are yellowish or pinkish, 6-10 cm (2.4-4 in) in diameter, with pedicels 1-2 cm (0.4-0.8 in) long. The fruits are fleshy berries 2-4 cm (0.8-1.6 in) in diameter; they ripen several months after flowering, changing color from green to red, purple, or yellow. Each fruit is divided into 6-20 chambers containing 20-100 seeds. The seeds are obovate, brown, and shiny. Carpobrotus can reproduce both by seed and by division.

Seeds are sown on the surface, moistened with a spray bottle, covered with film, and germinated in light, but not in direct sun at 22-25 °C (72-77 °F). Seedlings need ventilation. Overwatering and desiccation of sowings must be avoided.

© Greeniverse. All rights reserved.

Caring for Carpobrotus is not difficult. Because it belongs to succulents, i.e., is capable of storing water in leaf tissues, it should not be watered too frequently. Accustomed to drought, the plant can grow on poor rocky soil virtually without watering. The main requirement is abundant sunlight; without it, Carpobrotus rots quickly. The plant propagates both by seed and by cuttings.