Carpobrotus chilensis
Sea fig
(c) Alan Rockefeller, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Aizoaceae · Type: Shrub · Not Native
Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes
Carpobrotus chilensis (Sea fig) is a non-native California shrub in the Aizoaceae family, recognized by (C. edulis). Clear morphological differences in leaf shape, glaucous coating, flower size and fruit shape.
Sea fig is a naturalized shrub found in coastal bioregions including northern California Coast, Central California Coast, southern California Coast, and northern Channel Islands on coastal sandy shores at elevations below 100 meters. Flowering approximately all year, this plant produces pale pink to magenta flowers 2 to 2.5 centimeters long that are sessile and prominently displayed. Growing with sprawling stems up to 2 meters long, it forms dense mats across sandy coastal landscapes. Its thick, fleshy leaves are widest above the middle, with a distinctive bluish-green (glaucous) appearance that helps retain moisture in coastal environments. When ripe, the fruit becomes soft and pulpy, contributing to the plant's successful spread along shoreline habitats.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species (C. edulis). Clear morphological differences in leaf shape, glaucous coating, flower size and fruit shape.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common on coastal sandy shores
Elevation: < 100 m
California counties: Ventura, San Francisco, Orange, Santa Barbara, San Diego, San Mateo, San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles, Monterey, Humboldt, Marin, Santa Cruz, Riverside, Mendocino, Alameda, Del Norte, Sonoma
Outside California: to Oregon, Mexico, probably native to southern Africa
Bloom period
Carpobrotus chilensis blooms +- all year.
Conservation status
Cal-IPC Yes
How to tell it apart
vs Disphyma: Carpobrotus has huge flowers (3+ inches) and chunky triangular leaves; Disphyma has smaller flowers and rounded leaves.; vs Mesembryanthemum: Carpobrotus is robust perennial with fleshy fruits; Mesembryanthemum is delicate annual with crystalline leaves.; vs Delosperma: Carpobrotus has fleshy fig-fruits and huge flowers; Delosperma has dry capsules and smaller flowers.; vs Dudleya: Carpobrotus has opposite triangular leaves and ice-plant flowers; Dudleya has leaf rosettes and tubular flowers on stalks.; vs Hylotelephium: Carpobrotus has triangular succulent leaves and daisy-like flowers; Hylotelephium has flattened leaves and clustered star flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Carpobrotus chilensis native to California?
No. Carpobrotus chilensis is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Carpobrotus chilensis bloom?
Carpobrotus chilensis blooms +- all year.
Where in California does Carpobrotus chilensis grow?
Carpobrotus chilensis occurs in Ventura, San Francisco, Orange, Santa Barbara, San Diego, San Mateo, San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles and other counties, at elevations of < 100 m.
What plant family does Carpobrotus chilensis belong to?
Carpobrotus chilensis is in the Aizoaceae family, genus Carpobrotus.
Is Carpobrotus chilensis invasive in California?
Carpobrotus chilensis is listed by Cal-IPC with an invasiveness rating of Yes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.