Succulent found in Carlsbad CA

by Miguel
(Miami, FL)

Succulent found in Carlsbad, CA some years ago took a picture not a good one but...


Drought Smart Plants reply:

Hi Miguel, this is some kind of Mesembryanthemum, otherwise known as the Livingstone Daisy, or Ice Plant.

I had no idea that they were native to the area around Carlsbad, but glad to be proven wrong! The tiny glistening bubbles are typical of this genus, and the daisy like flowers only open in full sun - the epitome of a drought smart plant!

They are usually not frost hardy, but have many strategies to enable them to withstand heat and dry conditions, including their low to the ground growth habit.

Each plant will produce a lot of seeds from each of their blooms, which can spread quite a distance. They only germinate in exactly the right conditions, usually waiting for a good rainfall, after which they'll germinate and grow only until they've finished their bloom cycle.

The flowers can be pastel shades of pink, yellow and peach, or as in this case white or cream. The foliage with the funny crystaline appearance is quite rubbery in texture, and quite often will turn red in extreme drought conditions.

Jacki