Aptenia cordifolia

Aptenia cordifolia, also known as Fig marigold or Heart-leaved ice plant, is a perennial with small succulent leaves, similar to Delosperma. It is another South African plant that stands out with the inimitable brightness of its small carmine pink daisies, whose shiny petals play with the light.  Its evergreen and fleshy leaves, heart-shaped, are attractive. Aptenia cordifolia loves sunlight, the seaside, poor soils, and can tolerate very dry summers. It occasionally tolerates frosts of about - 5°C (41°F), but it is a tender plant, to be grown in pots or as an annual in most areas.

The Aptenia cordifolia belongs to the Aizoaceae family. This family is made up of a large number of perennial succulent plants native to South Africa, East Africa, and Madagascar, ideally suited to hot and dry climates and coastal conditions. They settle between stones, rocks, or on dry slopes, as long as they find a bit of soil. If there are frosts, place Aptenia cordifolia in a pot or container to bring indoors in winter. Prostrate and creeping, it reaches up to 1 metre (3 feet) wide and 5 to 10 cm (2 to 4in) high. The plant has cylindrical stems of a greyish green colour, highly branched; its evergreen fleshy, bright green, ovate leaves are wide, 2 to 3 cm (1in) long, and heart-shaped, hence its name. In summer and autumn, solitary flowers measuring 1 to 2 cm (1in) in diameter develop, in the form of daisies, with very thin and elongated petals, carmine pink in colour, around a yellow centre. 

If you like Delosperma, you will succumb to the charm of Aptenia cordifolia. It thrives in coastal gardens alongside Sedums, Sempervivums, and other small perennials such as South African daisies (Felicia, Osteospermum, Dimorphoteca). In pots or in the ground, plant several species of these small South African succulents to create a dazzling multicoloured carpet that is easy to maintain for a very long period.

The leaves of Aptenia cordifolia are edible: they add a slightly acidic flavour to salads.