Cephalophyllum Species, Ice Plant, Red Spike Ice Plant

Red Spike 'Ice Plant' grows on our chain link fence.
Where it gets full sun all day, it only got up to 3' high.
However, wh...Read Moreere it is shaded all morning & only gets sun after noon, it has reached near 5' high.

House Sparrows regularly trim the tops of leaves at the top of the plants, apparently eating them. I read that they eat flower buds, so maybe this plant's leaves look enough like flower buds that they eat them by mistake? Or, they may have the same nutrients as the buds. When I look at the top of the plants in hot weather, I always find many of their leaf tips missing!

Cephallophyllum alstonii is a creeping perennial succulent, ideal as a groundcover, or as a potplant on a patio. The spectacular, bright...Read Morely coloured blood-red flowers attract insects when the flowers open.

Cephalophyllum alstonii is a creeping perennial succulent, the leaves are triangular, about 60-120 mm long, greenish, erect, and the surface is smooth throughout. Attractive, large, blood-red, flower clusters occur in winter (June-September). The fruit capsules have between 10-24 locules that contain small, pear-shaped brown seeds.

Distribution and habitat : This species occurs in the Ceres Karoo area and receive 100 to 350 mm rainfall per year, mainly in winter. It cannot tolerate heavy frost and does best in areas of low rainfall.

The genus has 33 species, and Cephalophyllum pillansii, a commonly cultivated creeper, whose yellow flowers have cherry red centres, is another noteworthy member.

Ecology The spectacular bright red flowers open mainly at midday and in the afternoon to attract insect pollinators. In this genus, dispersal of seed is closely related to the opening of the capsule
through moisture. The seeds are expelled from the locules, triggered by rain, when conditions for germination of seedlings
are favourable.

Uses and cultural aspects This popular, water-wise garden plant
is successfully used to prevent soil erosion, thus stabilizing the exposed ground. On farms, the leaves serve as a source of food for sheep.

Excerpted from plantzafrica.com/plantcd/cephalalston.htm

This is by no means a fast-growing plant, and for most of the year it looks like a sea anemone out of water, but when it's blooming time ...Read Morewatch out. The fuscia color will turn heads, so don't plant it where it can cause an accident!

These plants are inexpensive and readily available. I've seen them planted together with Rosea ice plants, which bloom a little later, and the result is spectacular.

This plant has been in my yard for three years and they're still spreading. They seem to take the heat and cold pretty well here in this...Read More climate. It is a winter grower and bloomer. During summer, they still need some water eventhough they are somewhat dormant. Flowers are brilliant and will brighten up an area. They last for a few days. Pinch off spent flowers to encourage more blooms. Flowers will only open in bright sun. At night or during cloudy days, they remain closed.