Carpobrotus Edulis, Highway Iceplant

Although the large (2 or more inches in diameter) flowers of carpobrotus edulis can sometimes be pink, pale yellow is the usual color. Pink may result from hybridization with carpobrotus chilensis. Each carpobrotus edulis flower has between 100 and 200 narrow, linear petals surrounding approximately 100 yellow-tipped stamens, and lies on top of a dense mat of succulent green leaves, triangular in cross-section. This species is one of several dozen known as ice plants, and none are native to the US; the highway ice plant originates from South Africa but has been established all along the Pacific coast of California, where it is often used to stabilize sand dunes or as a decorative garden plant.