Mesembryanthemum crystallinum, Carpobrotus edulis

Common name

Iceplants: crystalline iceplant, highway iceplant

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Description

Iceplants are perennial succulent groundcovers with small, bright seasonal flowers and fleshy fruits. M. crystallinum has been used for landscaping by California Department of Transportation and by gardeners.

How does it spread?

Individual plants can expand more than a meter in diameter per year. It can produce over 1,500 seeds per fruit. Ungerminated seeds remain viable for at least two years, and uneaten fruits remain on the plant for several years.

Where would I find it?

Iceplant occurs along the coast from north of San Francisco all the way south to Mexico and on the Channel Islands. It mostly colonizes coastal bluffs, but can colonize grasslands up to 8 miles inland and invade areas disturbed by grazing. It invades coastal grassland, coastal scrub, dunes, coastal bluff scrub, maritime chaparral, oak woodlands, and the margins of wetlands.

What problems does it cause?

Iceplant increases soil salt content and blocks light for other species. Salts released by iceplant favor salt-tolerant species (like itself) while inhibiting grasses. This decreases the density and cover of annuals. The plant decomposes slowly, leaving biomass in place for several years.