Mystery Plant

Hi, we got this really unique mystery plant from our local garden nursery (they plant all the pots at our office) however, nobody seems to know what it is or how we ended up with it. Any idea of its name would be great.

It has both bright pink and peach to pale yellow flowers, which open up in full sun, and then close up as shown in the pics when it comes into shade or a cloudy day. It has a trailing ground cover type of growth, with vivid purple pink stems and sage green leaves.

It's an odd plant, but we like it, and want to ensure we are caring for it properly.


Drought Smart Plants reply:

Hi Stephanie, this is Mesembryanthemum, or the Livingstone Daisy. Several plants that are similar go by the same common name, which does cause some confusion. The one I know from childhood has crystal like leaves, with a funny rubbery texture. Yours may be a little different, but they all like the same type of cultivation.

They are desert plants, originating in parts of South Africa, thriving and blooming as long as the sun shines, and they love well drained soil and drought.

Grown as annuals (plants that bloom and set seed and die in one season) in our climate, they make great container plants. You've noted the trait of opening their blooms in the sun and closing up again as evening falls. They are easy to grow from seed, quite often re-seeding themselves if the seed pods are left.

Probably what happened is exactly this, some seeds fell into the planter as it was being planted, and you got a surprise gift.

Enjoy your lovely little daisy blooms while they last.

Jacki