All right, they don’t have the most attractive names. But native Australian pig face plants are a great choice for your garden.
These low-growing plants are found in coastal areas, where they act as soil stabilisers. And they’ll do the same in your yard, while giving you cheery, daisy-like flowers in spring!
Native pig face plants are very low-maintenance – just give them full sun and well-drained soil, and they’ll thrive. They’re fast-growing, though, so prune them in winter to keep them contained.
A plant that’s easy to care for, with attractive flowers and edible parts? Odd name or not, native pig face is well worth growing!
When to Grow | Growing Conditions | How to Plant | Pig Face Plant Care | Common Problems
Presenting the Pig Face Plant
Along the eastern coasts of Australia, from Queensland to Victoria, you may have seen a short plant with chunky blue-green leaves and bright flowers.
That’s the pig face plant (also called pigface or ice plant) – Australia’s native Carpobrotus succulent. Most Carpobrotus plants are endemic to Africa, but 6 species are found here down under.
Some commonly-grown native species include:
- Carpobrotus glaucescens (ice plant)
- Carpobrotus rossii (karkalla)
- Carpobrotus virescens (coastal pigface)
These succulents are cultivated as ground cover, since they’re fast-growing with a creeping habit. A strong root system also makes pig face good for erosion control!
There are other benefits, too, since the native Australian pig face:
- Uses less water than non-native plants
- Covers large spaces in gardens quickly
- Has leaves that soothe burns and stings
- Is a valuable food source, from fruits to flowers
You can also grow pig face in playgrounds and other spaces for kids! It has no spikes or thorns, making it an ideal child-friendly succulent.
When to Grow Native Pig Face Succulents
The best time to plant native pig face is in autumn, when the weather is cool. This lets the plant establish itself before the growing seasons of spring and summer.
You can also plant pig face seedlings in early spring, but not during the hotter months of summer.
Native Pig Face Growing Conditions
Whether you’re planning to grow pig face as ground cover or an edible garden plant, these are key factors for the succulent to thrive.
Soil or potting mix
Native pig face grows in sandy conditions in the wild, so it thrives in sandy, well-drained soil. You can also use a gritty potting mix for succulents.
Native Carpobrotus succulents do poorly in loamy, heavy, or poorly-draining soils. Excessive moisture can lead to root rot.
Light
Pig face prefers growing in at least 6 hours of full sun to maximise flowering and colour.
They will tolerate partial shade, but you’ll have less colour or fewer flowers. You’ll also notice that the blooms don’t open on overcast or wet days.
When grown indoors, place your potted pig face by a window that gets morning sun. Otherwise, keep it under a full-spectrum grow light for 8-10 hours.
Climate
Pig face plants grow naturally in coastal climates, but can adapt to most regions in Australia except very wet or humid climates.
These plants can tolerate heat, salt, drought, and mild to moderate humidity. They’ll also survive mild frost, but in cold climates, keep them as potted plants so you can bring them indoors during winter.
Where to plant
You can plant pig face almost anywhere, from rock gardens to path borders! These hardy plants take a beating out in the wild, so they regrow easily even in high-traffic areas.
The only spots to avoid are low points in your garden (where water could pool) or anywhere with full shade.
You can also grow pig face plants in pots! Choose containers that have several large drainage holes – terracotta is great for succulents, since it doesn’t hold in water.
How to Plant Native Pig Face
Native pig face grows to about 0.2m high but spreads to 2m wide, so it’s the perfect ground cover for a garden. Imagine a carpet of plump leaves and bright blooms!
You can easily propagate it from cuttings, but you can also check your local nursery for seedlings.
How to grow pig face from seedlings
Choose a sunny spot and prepare the area beforehand. Remove any weeds and amend the soil to ensure good drainage.
Dig a hole a little wider and to the same depth as the root ball. Position the plant in the hole, then gently backfill with soil – ensuring the ground is firm but not compact.
Water well to settle the soil, and keep the soil consistently moist as the plant establishes itself. Water young plants every 2-3 weeks through their first summer.
How to grow pig face from cuttings
Pig face plant propagation is pretty easy! Choose a healthy stem and take a long cutting (at least 10cm), with plenty of leaves and nodes.
Take off the lowest leaves, then bury the bare end in some shallow soil. You can also put the pig face cuttings in a tall container with succulent potting mix, then place them somewhere sunny.
Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged until the roots form. Transfer your new pig face plants outside or to larger pots when they’ve formed secondary roots.
It’s better to propagate in soil rather than water, as the stems risk rotting instead of growing roots.
Alternatively, you can propagate pig face by layering! Take a healthy stem and pluck off the leaves in the middle, then bend it so the bare part touches the ground.
Lightly cover the stem with sandy soil and use some gardening pins to hold it in place. Keep the soil moist until you see good root growth, then taper off.
Native Pig Face Plant Care
Native pig face plants are very low-maintenance – so long as they’ve got sun and good drainage, they’ll thrive.
If you’re growing them as part of a water-wise or native garden, get a local gardening professional to help with planning and maintenance!
Watering
Like other native Australian flowering plants, pig face is very drought tolerant. It can subsist on natural rainfall and only needs watering during prolonged dryness.
In general, it’s best to underwater your pig face plant to prevent root rot.
However, if you notice your plant’s leaves looking thin or squished, that’s a sign it needs a drink! Fully soak the soil or potting mix so the water reaches the roots.
Pruning
Pig face is fast-growing, so you can cut it back hard in winter. This will help keep its shape and encourage lush spring growth.
When pruning, use sharp, disinfected secateurs or shears. You want to make clean cuts to minimise the risk of rot.
How to prune pig face plants? Start by cutting off any dead or damaged stems, then any spent or dry leaves – but no more than 1/3 of the plant’s foliage.
For woody growth, cut at the stem at the base.
You can also deadhead spent flowers after the growing season.
Fertiliser
Pig face succulents are adapted to poor soils, so healthy plants don’t need fertiliser!
If you want to give the plants a boost, apply a slow-release native fertiliser in spring.
Alternatively, use some plant-based mulch – avoid manure or other organic matter that’s high in phosphorus.
Common Pig Face Problems
Australian pig face is a pretty resilient plant – it’s not prone to pests or diseases.
That doesn’t mean it’s immune to everything, though!
Why is my pig face dying?
Native Carpobrotus can tolerate many conditions, so if you notice your plant is dying, the most common cause is overwatering.
Check for signs of root rot – yellowing or dying leaves, wilted stems, and dark or mushy roots. You’ll need to stop watering and cut off the rotting roots to help the plant recover.
Pig face plants can also die back in winter or see too much old growth. You can cut back the woody bits to encourage new growth and wait for the plant to “bounce back” in spring.
What is the white fungus on pig face leaves?
Does your pig face have white fungus (or what looks like it)? That’s not actually a fungus – it’s cottony scale, which is a sap-sucking insect.
Cottony scale spreads easily thanks to the dense Carpobrotus foliage.
To tackle scale on your pig face plants, you’ll need to remove all the heavily infested parts – either by pruning or uprooting. For smaller infestations or egg clutches, squash them with your hand (wear gloves!).
Make sure to bag the diseased parts before disposing of them, and never put them in a compost bin or the scale could spread elsewhere.
Spray the rest of the plants with horticultural oil (like neem oil) to knock off any juveniles or eggs. Repeat the treatment every 4 weeks until the infestation is gone.
Why isn’t my pig face flowering?
If you’re seeing fewer flowers on your pig face plants, it’s likely due to a lack of sun! While they can tolerate partial shade, they need full sun for the best flowering.
Alternatively, test your soil – there may be too much phosphorus. Native Australian plants are sensitive to phosphorus, which can inhibit their growth.
More to Know About Australian Pig Face Plants
Here are a few other fun facts and things to know about the native Carpobrotus succulent.
Are pig face plants edible?
Yes! The leaves, fruits, and even flowers of the pig face plant are all edible. Native pigface has long been an important bushfood for Indigenous Australians.
You can roast or pickle the leaves, while the fruits make good jams.
When does pig face flower?
Most native Australian pig face plants flower between spring and summer. Peak pig face flowering season is from October to January.
The reddish-purple fruits then come in between December and March.
Pig face plant colours come in pink, purple, yellow, and even white.
Why is pig face called pig face?
Two theories are floating around:
- The pink flowers look like a pig’s face
- The fruits look like a pig’s ear
We’ll leave it up to you if you feel either of those theories fit!
The scientific name, Carpobrotus, comes from the Greek words “karpos” (fruit) and “brotos” (edible).
Is pigface invasive in Australia?
The native Carpobrotus species – the ones endemic to Australia – are not considered invasive or weeds.
However, the introduced African pigface plants (such as Carpobrotus edulis or Carpobrotus aequilaterus) are considered invasive. African pigface is an environmental weed in SA, TAS, VIC, and WA.
