Description
PLEASE NOTE: We sell cuttings and bare root plants only. If you see a picture of a large plant in the listing it is for illustration purposes only and not what you will receive. Cuttings need to be placed in a container with water or moist soil till they root, bare root plants can be placed directly in the ground or containers and usually require daily watering till they are established. Some cuttings like succulents and cacti can be placed directly in the ground without rooting. Most cuttings do not have 100 percent success rate so we recommend you purchase a few to ensure success. Even some bare root plants will not give you 100 percent success rate after planting in the ground. Some plants are considered invasive in certain areas or provinces and the onus is on you to make sure you research the plant that you are purchasing to make sure it will work for you, your area and your landscape. To find out more info about cuttings and bare root plants and how to root cuttings please click HERE
South African sour fig, also known as Carpobrotus edulis, is a succulent ground cover plant native to the Western Cape of South Africa, with a characteristic sweet-sour taste. The edible fruit is used to make jam and preserves, and the leaves have medicinal uses, such as soothing sore throats and burns. The plant is also used for erosion control on dunes and embankments.
Characteristics and uses:
Plant: It is a fleshy, mat-like succulent with triangular, fleshy leaves.
Fruit: The fruit is conical, reddish-brown, and has a slimy pulp with seeds. It is enjoyed for its sweet-sour taste, and the base is often bitten off to suck out the pulp.
Culinary: The fruit is commonly used to make a popular jam or preserve called “sour fig jam” or suurvytjie konfyt.
Medicinal: The leaves have antiseptic properties and can be used externally to treat minor burns, abrasions, insect bites, and skin irritations.
Ecological: It is an excellent dune stabilizer and sand binder, and it provides food and shelter for various animals.
Chances of success of cuttings or bare root:
HIGH. This plant is very easy plant to propagate and will root even by sticking a cutting directly in the ground. We do not sell this plant in bare root because this plant has hardly any root system, the stems may have some roots on them though but you can just push the stem in the ground and this plant will grow and spread. You will receive a stem with a few leaves.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.