Hottentot-fig Stand
Native to South Africa. It is also known as ice plant, highway ice plant or pigface and in South Africa as the sour fig (suurvy; earlier: hotnotsvy), on account of its edible fruit. Hottentot-fig is a creeping, mat-forming succulent species and a member of the fig-marigold family Aizoaceae.
How To Identify Hottentot-fig?
Colour: Succulent green leaves with trailing dead leaves and stems
Leaves: In opposite pairs. Leaves are triangular in cross section. Some older leaves may appear reddish
Flower: Yellow or magenta solitary flower with a yellow centre. Only opens in sunlight generally in the afternoon
Hottentot-fig - Carpobrotus edulis ID Guide
Hottentot-fig Leaves
Hottentot-fig Flowers
Why Is Hottentot-fig A Problem?
Competes aggressively for space with native plant species. Can smother protected habitats such as dunes and vegetated coastal cliffs.
Hybrid species can lead to intensified invasions.
Can hinder the disturbance regime in dune habitats which are protected under the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC.
Hottentot-fig - Invasive Species Information
What Is Hottentot-fig - (Carpobrotus edulis)?
Habitat: Terrestrial. Found mostly on coastal cliffs
Distribution in Ireland: Localised around the east and south coast of the country
Status: Established
Family name: Aizoaceae
Reproduction: Vegetative propagation by runners (rooting at nodes) also capable of reproducing from seed which ripens from July and September
European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 non-native invasive plant species A-Z (Updated 2017)
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There are currently 35 invasive plant species listed in the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations (annex 2, Part 1)...
Click on a species from the following list to find out more regarding non-native species subject to restrictions under Regulations 49 and 50.
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American Skunk-Cabbage - Lysichiton americanus
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Brazilian Giant-Rhubarb - Gunnera manicata
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Broad-Leaved Rush - Juncus planifolius
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Cape Pondweed - Aponogeton distachyos
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Cord-Grasses - Spartina (all species and hybrids)
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Curly Waterweed - Lagarosiphon major
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Dwarf Eel-Grass - Zostera japonica
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Fanwort - Cabomba caroliniana
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Floating Pennywort - Hydrocotyle ranunculoides
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Fringed Water-Lily - Nymphoides peltata
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Giant Hogweed - Heracleum mantegazzianum
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Giant Knotweed - Fallopia sachalinensis
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Giant-Rhubarb - Gunnera tinctoria
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Giant Salvinia - Salvinia molesta
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Himalayan Balsam - Impatiens glandulifera
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Himalayan Knotweed - Persicaria wallichii
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Hottentot-Fig - Carpobrotus edulis
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Japanese Knotweed - Fallopia japonica
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Large-Flowered Waterweed - Egeria densa
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Mile-a-Minute Weed - Persicaria perfoliata
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New Zealand Pigmyweed - Crassula helmsii
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Parrots Feather - Myriophyllum aquaticum
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Red Alga - Grateloupia doryphora
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Rhododendron - Rhododendron ponticum
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Salmonberry - Rubus spectabilis
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Sea-Buckthorn - Hippophae rhamnoides
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Spanish Bluebell - Hyacinthoides hispanica
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Three-Cornered Leek - Allium triquetrum
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Wakame - Undaria pinnatifida
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Water Chestnut - Trapa natans
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Water Fern - Azolla filiculoides
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Water Lettuce - Pistia stratiotes
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Water-Primrose - Ludwigia (all species)
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Waterweeds - Elodea (all species)
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Wireweed - Sargassum muticum
Non-Native Plant Species identified as High Risk on Ireland's Biodiversity List...
Common name
Species name
Environment
Terrestrial
Freshwater
Terrestrial
Terrestrial
Marine
Freshwater
Freshwater
Freshwater
Terrestrial
Terrestrial
Terrestrial
Terrestrial
Marine
Terrestrial
Freshwater
Freshwater
Freshwater
Terrestrial
Freshwater
Marine
Risk score
20
19
18
19
18
19
21
20
19
18
18
19
19
20
20
19
20
20
20
18