Carpobrotus edulis

[gardener66]

I spotted some of these whilst on holiday in Devon and loved them! Does anyone have any experience of growing them and do you think they could work in a London garden?

Also does anyone know where I could buy a young plant? I’ve had a look online but can’t see any available. I’m too impatient for seeds!

While London has a higher microclimate in winter, I'm not sure whether it would survive, being a native of South Africa.
It was introduced to the UK centuries ago, and escaped and spread in the South west, where it has become an invasive weed on the cliffs, and threatens the native flora. Attempts to eradicate it haven't been very successful.
It is a cliff-dweller, and does best in hot, dry and sunny conditions, so probably not suitable for a garden.

Central London has a similar microclimate to the Devon Gulf Stream coast eg you can grow palm trees. C. edulis needs well drained soil though so it depends what your soil is like.

How does artificial grass deal with paddling pools? About to her fake grass and would love to have paddling pool but not sure how we would offload the water when we wanted to empty pool?! interested in others experience.. TIA XX

I know it’s an invasive weed but it’s such a pretty one! I have clay soil.

They do seem to grow in London, according to this website:
www.brc.ac.uk/plantatlas/plant/carpobrotus-edulis
Sour figs (as they're known in South Africa) grow on sand dunes (not many seaside cliffs in SA!), so might survive on gravel and sand, particularly if you could prevent lots of rainfall falling on the plant in winter. Lots of SA plants are surprisingly well able to cope with cold provided they're kept dry - I overwinter some of my SA bulbs in pots in a metal cabinet outside. I once saw someone on Gardener's World protecting a large outdoor succulent with a sheet of glass over the top during winter.

I got a plant from Cactus Shop online for £3.50 it's only tiny ,with pink flowers, but it's growing in bark chippings on the ground in my pollytunnel. So far it seems to like it but I will plant it in an old butler sink I have in well drained soil for winter.

I would probably grow it in a container if you have clay soil then. Climate wise, I find what grows in my garden in Devon, grows in London but I only have a roof terrace and a balcony so no London clay to deal with.

@Rosiela you might want to start your own new thread so more people see your question.

The winter will be the problem - it's the combination of cold and wet. If you could bring them in for the winter, or start drying them off in september and keep them bone dry through till May, you may be OK. Chiltern seeds seem to feel you've got a good chance, but they're inclined to be optimisitc: www.chilternseeds.co.uk/item_277l_carpobrotus_edulis_seeds

If you would be happy with similar plants on a much smaller scale, you might like Delospermas. They are in the same family as Carpobrotus -(Aizoacea) but are small carpeting plants which come in a wide range of colours. Completely hardy too - I have a few growing in a large trough, outside all year round.
www.plantpost.co.uk/delosperma-jewel-of-desert.php#.XvMr9kqkqrU