Mesembryanthemum, Baby Sunrose, Dew Plant, Heartleaf Ice Plant 'Red Apple'

Mesembryanthemumcordifolium

Family
Aizoaceae (ay-zoh-AY-see-ee)
Genus
Mesembryanthemum (mes-em-bry-ANTH-ee-mum)
Species
cordifolium (kor-di-FOH-lee-um)
Synonym
Aptenia cordifolia
Sun Exposure
Light Shade
Partial to Full Shade
Foliage
Evergreen
Herbaceous
This plant is fire-retardant
Height
under 6 in. (15 cm)
Spacing
12-15 in. (30-38 cm)
Hardiness
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
Danger
N/A
Bloom Color
Red
Bloom Time
Blooms all year
Other Details
Category
Groundcovers
Perennials
Tropicals and Tender Perennials
Cactus and Succulents
Water Requirements
Drought-tolerant; suitable for xeriscaping
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Foliage Color
Where to Grow
Bloom Characteristics
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
Bloom Size
Other details
May be a noxious weed or invasive
Soil pH requirements
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
Patent Information
Non-patented
Propagation Methods
From herbaceous stem cuttings
Seed Collecting
Regional

This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:

Phoenix, Arizona

Queen Creek, Arizona

Scottsdale, Arizona

Tempe, Arizona

Tucson, Arizona(2 reports)

Yuma, Arizona

Albany, California

August, California

Banning, California

Beale AFB, California

CARLOTTA, California

Canoga Park, California

Citrus Heights, California

Clayton, California

Culver City, California

Fairfield, California

Fontana, California

Forestville, California

Fremont, California

Fresno, California

Goleta, California

Hayward, California

Long Beach, California

Los Angeles, California

Menifee, California

Merced, California

Monterey, California

Monterey Park, California

Murrieta, California

Newbury Park, California

Oakhurst, California

Oceanside, California

Ontario, California

Poway, California

Sacramento, California

San Diego, California

Santa Ana, California

Stockton, California

VALLEY VILLAGE, California

Vacaville, California

Valencia, California

Ellendale, Delaware

Brandon, Florida

Fernandina Beach, Florida

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Fort Myers, Florida

Jacksonville, Florida

Key West, Florida

Miami, Florida

Odessa, Florida

Seminole, Florida

Tampa, Florida

Venice, Florida

West Palm Beach, Florida(2 reports)

Franklin, Indiana

Zwolle, Louisiana

Mathiston, Mississippi

Henderson, Nevada

Las Vegas, Nevada(3 reports)

North Las Vegas, Nevada

Austin, Texas(2 reports)

El Paso, Texas(2 reports)

Harlingen, Texas

Houston, Texas

Humble, Texas

Jacksonville, Texas

Lockhart, Texas

Lubbock, Texas

Lufkin, Texas

New Braunfels, Texas

Plano, Texas

Portland, Texas

Quinlan, Texas

San Angelo, Texas(2 reports)

San Antonio, Texas(2 reports)

Victoria, Texas

show all

Featured Videos

Gardener's Notes:

20
positives
6
neutrals
2
negatives
Sort By:
Sort By:
3
Albany, CA (Zone 10a) | May 2019 | neutral

I agree with renee901. Their appearance suffered after the rains, but are recovering.

I also seem to recall the plant tag...Read More

R
Sierra Madre, CA (Zone 10a) | January 2019 | neutral

A big problem with it in CA is that when the heavy winter rains come, if we are so lucky, the water sitting on the plant rots the leaves ...Read More

E
Santa Fe, NM | July 2017 | neutral

Has anyone experienced growing the Red Apple ice plant in the ground in Zone 6? I assume the foliage will die back due to our winters bu...Read More

P
P
Forestville, CA | October 2015 | positive

Reported as invasive for this area but I have grown it for 20 years in my Sonoma County garden in full sun/part shade. It does well with...Read More

M
Valencia, CA | September 2015 | positive

@ Awfulart:
I think the concern on 50 deg weather is that it probably won't do well in temperatures that are not decidedly...Read More

F
| August 2015 | positive

i have one of these plants which has varigated leaves. I grew it from a two inch cutting and it is now about six inches tall. When is i...Read More

A
Rio Rico, AZ | April 2015 | positive

I grew red apple in California with great success. Now I live in Az in Rio Rico. Altitude is 3,800 ft. It does freeze here in the Wint...Read More

K
Marrero, LA | February 2015 | positive

Looking to purchase this plant. Unable to find in Louisiana.
Unable to ship from California to my area. Any ideas on where to get ...Read More

L
Santa Ana, CA | July 2013 | positive

Let's clear something up - the invasive version of ice plant, aka "sea fig" or Carpobrotus edulis is the invasive species that grows alon...Read More

A
A
| January 2013 | positive

Most people don't know that Baby Sun Rose is actually edible and can be used in salads. The plant was also used in traditional Zulu medic...Read More

B
B
Tempe, AZ | August 2012 | positive

My plants are all in pots. Started off with one, then as I pinched off tips to encourage the plant to thicken up I just pushed the tips i...Read More

J
Los Angeles, CA | August 2012 | positive

This is absolutely the BEST ground cover solution for areas of hot sun, poor soil and limited watering. A tenant had planted some as an e...Read More

M
San Diego, CA | August 2012 | neutral

I have a question for those with this, since i've just transplanted it and had someone tell me that it was responsible for the stains on ...Read More

C
Poway, CA | June 2012 | positive

we have a large amount of this growing on a hill in our backyard and i love it! the only problem is, there are areas that tend to turn y...Read More

V
Vacaville, CA (Zone 9b) | March 2012 | positive

I have been growing this for 3 years now and it is not growing anywhere I don't want it to. It does grow vigorously, but it doesn't take...Read More

Z
| September 2011 | neutral

I have been searching for a drought tolerant ground cover for a large area of poor soil and I think i finally found it! I am so excited a...Read More

D
D
Culver City, CA | July 2011 | positive

I'm in Los Angeles area, and have only had Aptenia since ca. january. by accident, recently found a great use for those yanked-out overg...Read More

D
Fontana, CA | June 2009 | positive

When I bought my house 12 years ago I planted this along my front fence near an arborvitae hedge. Since then it has gradually climbed the...Read More

A
Lockhart, TX | June 2009 | positive

I have this growing in a flower garden that is 100' long. I love it!! It is a fast grower, frost hardy, drought tolerant and looks beau...Read More

I
Fresno, CA | October 2008 | positive

This is not the same plant that grows along California coast and it is NOT INVASIVE at all. It does well on the trellis or as a ground co...Read More

H
H
San Antonio, TX (Zone 8b) | June 2007 | positive

I have never ad a problem removing it from where I don't want it however, maybe its just because of the climate here. It does grow prof...Read More

J
San Francisco, CA | June 2006 | negative

If this plant acts the same as the ice plant that grows all along California's coast, you should know that not only is it invasive (crowd...Read More

J
Jacksonville, FL | August 2005 | positive

We found this delightful little plant thriving in many corners of Egypt this summer: from the mountains of Sinai to the delta gardens of...Read More

F
Newbury Park, CA | July 2005 | negative

this plant grows on a hill on my aunts property. for years she has been trying to get rid of it, but with no success. this plant is a pai...Read More

J
San Antonio, TX (Zone 8b) | March 2004 | positive

We love this plant! It grows like crazy, so it might be called invasive, but it's easy to clip away and isn't hard to pull out. It prop...Read More

K
K
L.A. (Canoga Park), CA (Zone 10a) | April 2003 | neutral

I find it kind of blah, but "familiarity breeds contempt", they say.

Z
Scotia, CA (Zone 9b) | April 2003 | positive

Having been warned it could be invasive, I grew this in a pot and it did wonderfully. It looked great trailing from a hanging basket and ...Read More

J
J
Oakland, CA (Zone 9b) | September 2002 | positive

This iceplant relative is a terrific groundcover IF you are able to keep it confined; e.g., urban areas. It is an extremely aggressive gr...Read More

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