# Chilean sea fig (*Carpobrotus chilensis*)

The Chilean sea fig is a fun plant that grows near the ocean. Its bright green leaves and colorful flowers make it look like a little treasure on the beach!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Coastal areas

![Chilean sea fig](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Carpobrotuschilensis.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Anthony Valois and the National Park Service, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Carpobrotuschilensis.jpg)

## Appearance

The Chilean sea fig is a low-growing, mat-forming succulent with thick, fleshy, triangular leaves. It boasts bright, showy flowers, typically yellow or sometimes pinkish-purple, creating a vibrant carpet on coastal landscapes. Its robust growth distinguishes it from delicate dune plants.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Caryophyllales
- **Family:** Aizoaceae
- **Genus:** Carpobrotus

## Interesting facts

- Its tangy fruits, often called "sour figs," were traditionally gathered and enjoyed by indigenous peoples!
- Sometimes the flowers start yellow but slowly turn pinkish or purplish as they get older.
- The juicy sap from its leaves has been used in folk medicine to soothe stings and burns.
- This tough plant can grow incredibly fast, spreading several feet across the sand in just one year!

## Special abilities

- **Sand Stabilizer:** Its strong, spreading roots form a dense mat that holds loose sand together, preventing beach erosion.
- **Salt Shield:** This plant has special adaptations to tolerate salty air and soil, thriving where most other plants can't survive.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 10-30 cm
- **Spread:** 100-300 cm
- **Flower Size:** 3-5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Spring_summer
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits its bright flowers for nectar and pollen.
- **Eaten by:** Austral Thrush (*Turdus falcklandii*) — Eats the plant's fleshy, edible fruits.
- **Eats:** Degu (*Octodon degus*) — A native rodent that forages on its leaves and stems.

## Traits

- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground.
- [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
- [Salt Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/salt-tolerant): Salt tolerant plants can withstand and grow in conditions with elevated salinity levels in the soil or water.
- [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability.
- [Succulent](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/succulent): Succulent plants have thickened, fleshy parts, usually leaves or stems, adapted to store water in arid climates.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
- [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't touch plants unless you know they're safe!

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Chilean sea fig?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Chilean sea fig?

10-30 cm

### How wide does Chilean sea fig spread?

100-300 cm

### How big are the flowers on Chilean sea fig?

3-5 cm

### When does Chilean sea fig bloom?

Spring_summer

### Is Chilean sea fig edible?

Yes

### Is Chilean sea fig toxic?

None

### What is Chilean sea fig's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Shoreline Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/shoreline-park) — California, US · Park

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Chilean sea fig: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/chilean-sea-fig)