Ice Plant

Carpobrotus edulis

California, Flowers, Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Seasons

That is the Latin name for the oceanside vegetation called Ice Plant. Ice Plant is an invasive succulent that was imported from South Africa to California during the early 1900s for coastal erosion management.

Ice Plant turns red and orange in fall and winter.

The plant grows in a thick and dense mat-like way. Its thick succulent stems grow horizontally and curve upwards. Flowers generally appear in late winter to spring and can be yellow, pink, and purple. The ice plant’s fruit appears once the flower dies back and is edible. The fruit is yellow and fleshy when ripe and resembles a fig or spinning top.

Coastal Flora

California, Ocean, Pacific Ocean

It’s spring and the flowers were blooming along California’s Pacific Ocean Coastline. Flowers include California Poppies, California Morning Glory, Daisies, flowering Ice Plant and Lupine.

Rainbow Ice Plant Along California’s Coast

California, Flowers, Seasons

On my trip last week along California’s spectacular coastline, I noticed that the Ice Plant growing along the sand dunes and beaches was a very vibrant color. Fall weather had made its mark on the Ice Plant. In the second photo below, you’ll see the color of Ice Plant in other seasons. With an approaching Pacific Ocean storm, the contrast of the autumn colors to the dark blue skies was a refreshing look. Now, if we could only get an ocean in Southern Utah where I live.

Ice plant, in its fall colors, grows along the Pacific Ocean Coastline in Central California

This is the beach at Garrapata State Park just south of Carmel. The beach disappeared the next day under the high surf produced from a strong Pacific Ocean Storm. Those photos to follow soon.