Family Index

Scientific Name

Carpobrotus rossii

Family Name

AIZOACEAE (FICOIDEAE)

Common Name

Native Pigface

Status

Height

prostrate

Flowers

Light purple 4-6cm diam, solitary at branch ends. Many shiny, narrow petals 2cm long

Fruit

Woody capsule

Form

Fleshy perennial herb, stems to 1m long, triangular leaves

Municipalities

Break O'Day; Brighton; Burnie; Central Coast; Circular Head; Clarence; Derwent Valley; Devonport; Dorset; Flinders Island; Georgetown; Glamorgan-Spring Bay; Huon Valley; King Island; Kingborough; Latrobe; Sorell; Southern Midlands; Tasman; Waratah-Wynyard; West Coast; West Tamar

Communities

Coastal Vegetation

Habitat Notes

Widespread, common in coastal areas on rocky headlands & sand dunes, coastal cliffs and sand.

Site Tolerance

Dry; Exposed; Moist; Rocky; Rocky; Windy

Frost Tolerance

Hardy

Soil Tolerance

Fertile; Loam; Poor; Sandy; Well-drained

General Notes

Carpobrotus rossii can be distinguished from Disphyma crassifolium (round-leaved pigface) by: Smaller, less angular leaves Small capsules instead of fleshy fruits Slightly smaller flowers Suitable below powerlines.

Propagation Details

Propagation Calendar

Flowering Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Seed Collecting Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Sowing Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Cutting Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Seed Information

Seed Collection

Seed contained in grey capsules which open at maturity.fruit fleshy, fig-like, yellowish when ripe. seeds small, edible. to test for maturity squeeze capsule, tiny reddy brown seed will release

Seed Treatment Method

Fermentation

Seed Storage Life

Viable Seeds Per Gram

Seed Treatment Notes

Remove seed from capsules by soaking in warm water, then ferment by leaving to soak for a few days. Easy to propagate from seed.

Germination Time

3 months.

Suitable for Direct Seeding

Cuttings

Expected Time to Take Root

Expected Time to Plant Out

Propagation by Division N.B. Transplant only from nearby to avoid disease.

Yes

Cutting Notes

Very easy to propagate from cuttings.