Real or Fake?

by Jody M. Palmer
(Phoenix, Az)

I am curious to know ID? Are bubble plants real or not? If so, where can they be found?


Drought Smart Plants reply:

Hi Jody, if I understand your question properly, these are indeed the same plant as in this post Succulent Found In Carlsbad, CA: they are found in dry conditions, and obviously in varied climates, from the warm and dry California, and cooler and dryer areas too.

As far as I know they are not frost hardy, and in most cases with the garden varieties of Mesembryanthemum - also called Ice Plant or Livingstone Daisy, they reseed themselves if they're happy, or must be seeded with fresh seed every year. Many garden seed catalogs carry this species, which is pretty much identical to the ones in your pictures.

I can assure you that they are real, I've grown them in my garden many years, and they make an incredible show as a groundcover in hot sunny areas.

Happy Xeriscaping!
Jacki