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Hottentot Fig
Carpobrotus edulis
SA tree number
English: Hottentot Fig, Yellow Sour Fig, Sour Fig, Cape Fig, Hottentots Fig
Afrikaans: Ghaukum, Ghoenavy, Hottentotsvy, Kaapsevy, Perdevy, Rankvy, Suurvy, Vyerank, Ghouna, Kougoed, Strandvy
Xhosa: Umgongozi, Ikhambi-lamabulawo
Zulu: Umgongozi
Khoi: Ghouna, Kougoed
Historical scientific names: Mesembryanthemum edule, Mesembryanthemum edulis
Carpobrotus edulis, commonly known as Hottentot Fig or Yellow Sour Fig, is a well-known indigenous succulent groundcover. It is characterised by its fleshy, three-sided, bright lime-green to yellowish-green leaves, and striking yellow to pale yellow, daisy-like flowers. This extremely hardy and fast-spreading plant is vital for stabilising sand and providing edible fruits. While indigenous, it has become invasive in some parts of the world, including globally, and sometimes outside its natural range within South Africa, due to its vigorous growth.
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Distinguishing features:
Long, trailing stems that sprawl across the ground and root at nodes.
Thick, fleshy, triangular leaves that are 3-angled in cross-section, bright green to yellowish-green, and often tinged with red.
Large, showy, daisy-like flowers that are typically bright yellow or pinkish-purple.
Edible, fleshy, fig-like fruits that are distinctive in shape and flavour.
Forms dense, sprawling mats.
Overall appearance:
The Sour Fig (Carpobrotus edulis) is a robust and fast-growing succulent groundcover that forms extensive, dense mats. Its most notable features are its long, creeping stems, which are covered with thick, fleshy, triangular leaves that give it a somewhat spiky appearance. In spring and early summer, it bursts into bloom with a spectacular display of large, vibrant yellow or pinkish-purple, daisy-like flowers, followed by its distinctive, edible, fleshy fruits.
Height:
Typically grows 10 to 30 centimetres tall, but its stems sprawl widely.
Width:
Forms a spreading mat, often covering several metres in diameter, rooting wherever its stems touch the ground.
Leaves:
The leaves are opposite, very thick, fleshy, and triangular in cross-section, with a distinctive keel (ridge) along the back. They are typically 6-13 cm long and 1-1.5 cm wide. The colour is bright green to yellowish-green, often with reddish tips or margins, especially in full sun or dry conditions. The leaves are smooth (glabrous) and pointed at the apex.
Flowers:
The flowers are large and showy, daisy-like, solitary, and borne on short stalks. They are typically 8-15 cm in diameter. The colour can vary from bright yellow (most common) to pale yellow, or shades of pinkish-purple. The flowers open during the day and close at night. Carpobrotus edulis flowers are hermaphroditic, containing both male and female reproductive parts.
Flowering season:
Primarily flowers in spring and early summer (around September to November in South Africa), though it can have sporadic blooms at other times.
Fruits:
The fruit is a distinctive, fleshy, ovoid to fig-shaped capsule, typically 2.5-3.5 cm long and 2-3 cm wide. It ripens from green to yellow, then turns brownish when fully ripe. The fruit contains a sticky, sweet-sour, gelatinous pulp and numerous small, dark brown seeds. It is well-known for being edible.
Seeds:
The seeds are small, hard, and dark brown, embedded within the fleshy pulp of the fruit. They are typically dispersed by animals that consume the fruit.
Bark/Stems:
The stems are long, creeping, fleshy, and can be reddish or greenish. They readily root at the nodes where they touch the ground, allowing the plant to spread extensively and form dense mats. Older stems can become semi-woody at the base.
Thorns:
None.
Roots:
It has a fibrous and relatively shallow root system, with adventitious roots developing from the spreading stems, enabling it to colonise large areas and stabilise sandy soils.
Soil type:
Highly adaptable to a wide range of soil types, including sandy, coastal dunes, loamy, and even rocky soils. It thrives in well-drained conditions and is tolerant of poor, infertile soils. It also has good salt tolerance, making it suitable for coastal areas.
Aspect:
Thrives in full sun. It is extremely drought-tolerant and highly wind-resistant, making it excellent for exposed coastal positions. It is moderately frost-tolerant; mature plants can withstand light to moderate frosts if kept dry, but severe or prolonged frost can damage the foliage, though it often recovers from the roots.
Ediblity:
The ripe fruits are highly edible for humans. They have a distinct sweet-sour taste and can be eaten fresh, or used extensively to make jams, jellies, and traditional fermented drinks (like 'ghoena'). The juice from the leaves is traditionally used for medicinal purposes.
Toxicity:
Considered non-toxic. The leaf sap is widely used in traditional medicine for various ailments.
Uses:
Historically, it has been widely used for soil stabilisation and erosion control, especially on sand dunes, slopes, and embankments, particularly in coastal areas. It is popular for low-maintenance, water-wise gardening. Its edible fruits are a valued traditional food source. The leaf sap has extensive traditional medicinal uses for burns, stings, sore throats, thrush, diarrhoea, and digestive issues.
Ecology:
The large, colourful flowers attract a variety of insect pollinators, including bees. The fruits are eagerly consumed by a wide range of animals, including tortoises, rodents, baboons, vervet monkeys, and various bird species, which are crucial for seed dispersal. The dense, mat-forming growth provides shelter for snails, lizards, skinks, and other small terrestrial wildlife. Its robust root system is highly effective in stabilising coastal dunes and preventing erosion. While indigenous, its vigorous growth can sometimes lead to it outcompeting other indigenous species in certain habitats if not managed.
Distribution and habitat:
Carpobrotus edulis is indigenous to the Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa, particularly along the coast. Its natural range extends from the west coast to the Eastern Cape. Due to its hardiness and ease of propagation, it has been widely cultivated and has become naturalised and invasive in many parts of the world (e.g., California, Mediterranean region, Australia) and sometimes outside its natural historical range within South Africa, where it can outcompete other native plants. It is typically found on coastal sand dunes, sandy flats, rocky outcrops near the sea, and in other well-drained, often disturbed, coastal habitats.
Derivation of name:
The genus name Carpobrotus is derived from the Greek words 'karpos', meaning 'fruit', and 'brotos', meaning 'edible', referring to its fleshy, edible fruits.
The species epithet edulis is Latin for 'edible', directly referring to its consumable fruits.
Common names like "Yellow Sour Fig" refer to its flower colour and the sour taste of its fig-like fruit. "Hottentot Fig" is an older, now often considered offensive, common name referencing the Khoi Khoi people. "Suurvy" is its prominent Afrikaans name meaning "sour fig." "Kougoed" (Khoi for "chewing stuff") refers to the traditional practice of chewing the fermented leaves for their mild psychoactive effects.
Historical aspects:
Carpobrotus edulis has a deep historical connection with the Khoi Khoi people, who traditionally used its fruits for food and fermentation, and the leaves for medicinal and other purposes (e.g., 'Kougoed'). Its hardiness and ability to stabilise disturbed landscapes led to its widespread planting globally, unfortunately resulting in it becoming a significant invasive species in many parts of the world, including outside its natural South African range, where it can outcompete local flora. Its ecological impact is now carefully managed in conservation efforts.
Interesting facts:
This plant is famous for its bright yellow, daisy-like flowers that are so cheerful, and even more famous for its super tasty, tangy fruits that you can eat fresh or make into jam!
It's known as "Suurvy" in Afrikaans, which simply means "sour fig" – a perfect description of its yummy, tangy fruit.
It's a champion at stopping sand from blowing away, making it a hero for keeping our coastal dunes in place.
For centuries, the Khoi Khoi people used this plant not just for food, but also chewed its fermented leaves for a unique effect – hence the name "Kougoed"!
Growing tips:
Propagation: Extremely easy to propagate from stem cuttings. Simply break off a piece, allow it to dry for a day or two to form a callus, and then plant it in well-drained soil. It also grows readily from seed.
Planting: Thrives in full sun. Plant in well-drained soil; it is incredibly tolerant of sandy, rocky, and even poor soils.
Watering: Water regularly during establishment. Once established, it is extremely drought-tolerant and requires minimal to no watering. Avoid overwatering, which can lead to rot.
Frost Protection: Moderately frost-tolerant. In very cold areas, it may experience some dieback but usually recovers.
Maintenance: Very low maintenance. Can be trimmed to manage its spread. Be aware that it can spread very aggressively and outcompete other plants, so plant it where its spread can be contained, or in very large, open areas where it's appropriate.
This plant is a fantastic alternative for:
Prickly Saltwort
Salsola kali
Plant type:
Evergreen, ground cover, succulent or perennial
Plant family:
Aizoaceae (always living (in a variety of habitats)) - Order: Caryophyllales