Andalucia Life Fauna and Flora, Flowers of Andalucia Southern Spain

March 2004, Red Hottentot Fig, Carpobrotus acinaciformis

Red Hottentot Fig, Carpobrotus acinaciformis

The warm spring has brought the Red Hottentot Fig to flower slightly early. This one was seen on the south facing dunes at Las Palmones on the 8th February. Those dunes will soon be covered with these spectacular flowers that can reach 10cms across.

The plant has a low growing woody stem with triangular shaped fleshy leaves that conserve water during the blistering summer and it is common on sand dunes. It is often one of the first species to colonize a dune, its rapidly spreading habit helping to consolidate the sand. The normal flowering period is March to July