Hi LisaLu,

I don’t think you need to worry about it being
invasive!

Even if I don’t know anything about them, I’ve at least heard of most “hardy” perennials by now,
and I’ve never heard of that, so I googled it!
Looks like it comes from south (very south!) Africa, and I’d say there’s
not even a chance it would survive in the ground here. The “coldest” zone I found was zone 8, and
another site said zone 9.

It DOES look very similar to what’s usually called
“California Ice Plant,” but that’s a Delosperma (and also not hardy here), so
it’s not the same thing.

Here are a couple sites that appear to have reliable info.

http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Carpobrotus+acinaciformis

http://www.cactus-art.biz/schede/CARPOBROTUS/Carpobrotus_acinaciformis/Carpobrotus_acinaciformis/Carpobrotus_acinaciformis.htm

I’d say your best bet would be to stick it in a pot and see
how it does outside over summer, and then keep it inside over winter as a house
plant if you decide it’s worth it.

Skybird

P.S. When I was based
at San Fran and commuting to Denver I “grabbed” a few pieces of the CA ice
plant one time (from a AAA parking lot!) and brought them back to Denver and
rooted them in a pot inside, but they never looked very good as a house plant
and I finally just gave up and got rid of it!

Oh! Too funny! That's where mine came from :). I just googled images until I found the name.

It was growing everywhere on the side of the road and my husband travels often to San Fran. I made him grab me a few pieces! I found a few forums of people talking about keeping them in non-tropic climates and how they really need to be protected from snow but can handle some colder temps.

I think my plan is as you mentioned - they seem to root really easy and weren't affected by being ripped off the mother plant and shoved (non too gently!) into a hotel bag and then a suitcase! I'll throw them in my patio pots and if they don't overwinter well, I'll make him bring me more :)

That IS funny, Lisa!
I almost didn’t put that part in!
I guess I just assumed you knew what you were talking about with the
name! :-D But I WAS wondering who gave you such a
tropical thing here in Denver!

When I got my “pieces” I was absolutely AMAZED how
impossible it was to get them. I tried
and tried to “break” a few pieces off, and when that didn’t work I went to my “tool
box” in the car and found a “snips” type thing and CUT them off, and even that
was kinda hard.

If you leave them out over winter I guarantee they will not
make it! But since you have a source and
are willing to start it over again in spring—sounds like a plan! I’m sure nobody in CA is gonna “mind” your
appropriating some—since it IS considered to be a noxious weed out there these
days.

I’ll be curious to hear how it works for you over summer, so
come back and post when you find out.

Skybird

Ha, yeah...I didn't include it in the original post in case someone might be upset! It has totally over run the roadways there though. The few little pieces that got broken off are definitely not missed!

I'll keep you posted on how it fares in the pots this summer. Thanks!!

Lisa