Mesembryanthemum spp. Orange

Common Name:
Orange Pigface

Description:
Mesembryanthemum spp. Orange, commonly referred to as Orange Pigface, is a sun-loving, drought-tolerant ground cover celebrated for its vivid, daisy-like orange blooms and trailing succulent foliage. Flowering prolifically from spring through autumn, this plant creates a carpet of colour that opens wide in the sun and closes at night or on cloudy days. Its fleshy, finger-like green leaves retain moisture, making it well-suited to hot, dry conditions and poor soils. This variety thrives in Melbourne's climate, performing well in full sun and free-draining soils — particularly sandy or rocky ground — and is perfect for coastal gardens, embankments, retaining walls, and garden edges. The orange flowering form is especially eye-catching when mass-planted or draped over raised beds. It also serves as excellent erosion control and requires minimal maintenance once established. While not native to Australia, Orange Pigface is a widely used ornamental in water-wise landscaping due to its toughness and intense colour.

Form:
*Ground Cover
*Shrub - Clumping / Grass-like / Mounding

Mature Size:
*Height: 15–20 cm
*Width: 1–2 metres (spreading)

Aspect:
*Full Sun

Flowering:
*Flowers in Spring
*Flowers in Summer
*Flowers in Autumn

Flower Colour:
*Bright orange
*Golden-orange (varies slightly with variety)

Key Attributes:
*Drought Tolerant
*Suitable for Pots
*Bee Attracting
*Perennial
*Low Maintenance
*Fast Growing
*Suitable for Coastal Gardens
*Erosion Control
*Heat Tolerant
*Excellent for Rockeries
*Spreading Habit

Toxicity:
*Non-toxic to humans
*Non-toxic to pets

Companion Plants:
*Gazania rigens
*Carpobrotus glaucescens
*Lomandra ‘Little Con’
*Sedum ‘Gold Mound’
*Myoporum parvifolium