Carpobrotus edulis --Edible Ice Plant--

AKA "hottentot" fig, sour fig, "Vygie", and highway ice plant. Ripe fruit (and flowers) are gathered and either eaten fresh or made into a very tart jam. The leaves can be ingested orally for digestive problems or the juice can be sucked out to help a sore throat and can also be mixed into a lotion base and used for external issues such as ringworm, bruises, sunburns, and cracked lips. Attractive succulent with creeping stems that hold upright, succulent, triangular, green leaves and showy daisy-type, yellowish flowers. Native to South Africa, tolerates coastal and saline conditions and strong winds and will resist moderate freezes. Makes a superb and robust ground cover even on sand and rocks!