Heartleaf Ice Plant, magenta blossoms (Mesembryanthemum cordifolium)

Also known as Aptenia, Baby Sun Rose, Dew Plant, Heart-leaf, Heart-leaf iceplant, Heartleaf iceplant, Heart-leaved Aptenia, Heart-leaved Midday Flower, Ice Plant, Noon flower, Red Aptenia, Rock rose; rooi brakvygie, brakvygie (Africaans); Ibohlololo, umjuluka, uncolozi omncane (Zulu). Former scientific binomial: Aptenia cordifolia

Plant Type: succulent, creeping, mat-forming perennial herb

Plant Family: Fig-Marigold Family (Aizoaceae)

Visual Identification: prostrate, ground-covering herb with small heart-shaped, glossy green succulent leaves. Bladder or water cells are closely arranged on the surfaces of the stems and leaves and shine in the sunlight. The green leaves are fleshy, flat, heart- to oval-shaped, and are widely spaced in pairs or singularly arranged. Spreading habit. It produces small, daisy-like bright pink flowers.

Native Region(s): the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa

Landscape Use: Ground cover for low-maintenance gardens, water-wise gardens, and rock gardens. Add to containers, hanging baskets, and walls as a "spiller". Useful for choking out weeds. If planting near a driveway or a sidewalk, remember to leave a couple of feet of space between the plant and the drive or walkway. Moderately drought-tolerant. Attracts pollinators such as bees and butterflies. Has been labeled officially as an invasive species in California.

Height: 4-8 inches

Spread: 2 feet

Spacing: 2-3 feet

Hardiness Zones: 8B-11. Some sources claim 8a-10b. In lower zones, it can be grown as an annual.

Hardy Down To: Within their USDA Hardiness Zones, frost and cold weather kills them down to the ground, but they rebound with the onset of warm weather. Mulching during the winter may help it to come back in areas where it is marginally hardy (USDA Hardiness Zones 8 and 9). If you are interested in overwintering the live plant, keep it at a minimum temperature of 40° F.

Light: can thrive in full sun, provided that it receives part shade or filtered sunlight in the afternoon in hot, dry climates. This plant will bloom less in lower light conditions.

Water: In the landscape, supplemental irrigation is not required in most climates. In desert climates with hot, dry summers (or during a drought), water deeply when the soil becomes completely dry. Constantly wet soil can cause it to rot.

Soil: well-drained, sandy soils. For containers, anything from a lightweight commercial potting mix to a mix formulated for succulents will do. It is tolerant of a wide variety of pH levels.

Maintenance: Pruning should be done in the spring, cutting off any areas that have browned over the winter. Prune throughout the growing season as needed to keep paths clear.

Fertilize: Fertilize very lightly in early spring.

Seasons of Interest: blooms in spring and summer but may blossom nearly year-round in the tropics. The flowers open around mid-day, under the brightest light.

Culinary Uses: Some say it tastes like fresh, sour, green apple. The crunchy greens are best eaten raw, and can be added to salad or as a garnish for hot dishes. The plant tends to lose its structure when cooked.

Toxicity: not toxic to either plants or animals.

Additional Resources:

  1. buceplant.com, "Aptenia Cordifolia"
  2. California Poison Control System (calpoison.org), "Plants"
  3. ehow.com, "Aptenia Cordifolia Care"
  4. goodfood.com.au, "Garden-to-plate: Chefs share 11 unusual vegetables to grow and cook at home"
  5. llifle.com, "Aptenia cordifolia (L.f.) Schwantes"
  6. plantcaretoday.com, "How To Care For Aptenia Cordifolia"
  7. South African National Biodiversity Institute, PlantZAfrica.com (pza.sanbi.org), "Aptenia cordifolia (L.f.) Schwantes"
  8. succulentsnetwork.com, "Aptenia Cordifolia ‘Baby Sun Rose’"
  9. weedsofmelbourne.org, "Heartleaf Iceplant (Aptenia cordifolia)"
  10. wikipedia.org, "Mesembryanthemum cordifolium"
  11. wikipedia.org, "Aizoaceae"

 


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