Malephora crocea
Coppery mesembryanthemum
(c) Rob Foster, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Aizoaceae · Type: Shrub · Not Native
Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes
Malephora crocea (Coppery mesembryanthemum) is a non-native California shrub in the Aizoaceae family, recognized by Naturalized South African species; distinctive orange flowers unique within California ice plant family.
Coppery mesembryanthemum is a naturalized perennial found in coastal California regions including the Central Coast, Southern Coast, and southern Channel Islands in coastal wetland margins and bluffs at elevations below 50 meters. Flowering from March to December, this plant produces stunning orange to yellow flowers with purple-tinged outer surfaces, creating vibrant daisy-like blooms. Growing with stout, pale, corky stems that often root at the nodes, it reaches heights of up to 20 to 30 centimeters. Its leaves are pale glaucous-green, linear-elliptic to oblanceolate, measuring 2.5 to 6 centimeters long and sometimes developing reddish tints. The distinctive flowers feature outer sterile stamens that are yellow and petal-like, with inner stamens often hairy at the base.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Naturalized South African species; distinctive orange flowers unique within California ice plant family
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Margins of wetlands, coastal bluffs
Elevation: < 50 m
California counties: Orange, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Ventura, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino
Outside California: native to southern Africa
Bloom period
Malephora crocea blooms Mar-Dec.
Conservation status
Cal-IPC Yes
How to tell it apart
vs Carpobrotus: Malephora has small copper flowers and dry capsules; Carpobrotus has huge showy flowers and fleshy fig-like fruits.; vs Curio: Malephora forms succulent mats with daisy-like flowers; Curio has cylindrical leaves on upright stems with tubular flowers.; vs Mesembryanthemum: Malephora is perennial with copper flowers; Mesembryanthemum is annual with crystalline leaf bubbles.; vs Arctotis: Malephora has many thin petals and succulent leaves; Arctotis has large daisy heads with broad ray flowers.; vs Lampranthus: Malephora has copper-colored flowers; Lampranthus typically has bright pink or magenta flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Malephora crocea native to California?
No. Malephora crocea is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Malephora crocea bloom?
Malephora crocea blooms Mar-Dec.
Where in California does Malephora crocea grow?
Malephora crocea occurs in Orange, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Ventura, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, at elevations of < 50 m.
What plant family does Malephora crocea belong to?
Malephora crocea is in the Aizoaceae family, genus Malephora.
Is Malephora crocea invasive in California?
Malephora crocea 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.