Disphyma crassifolium -Round-leaf Pigface

Disphyma crassifolium – Round-leaf Pigface Disphyma crassifolium, commonly known as round-leaf pigface, round-leaved pigface or salty fingers, is a hardy Australian native succulent groundcover with fleshy rounded leaves and bright pink to purple daisy-like flowers. It forms a low, spreading mat and is especially useful for sunny native gardens, coastal plantings, rockeries, dry banks, verge plantings, retaining walls, large pots and erosion-prone areas. This resilient pigface is well suited to harsh, exposed and low-water positions. Once established, Disphyma crassifolium is drought tolerant, salt tolerant and able to cope with sandy, saline and well-drained soils. It is a useful choice for gardeners wanting a tough native groundcover that offers colour, soil protection, edible uses and habitat value. Flowers Disphyma crassifolium produces cheerful pink to purple daisy-like flowers, usually through the warmer months, with flowering influenced by sun exposure, season and local conditions. The flowers open best in bright light and provide a lively splash of colour across the low succulent foliage. The flowers are attractive to native bees, hoverflies, butterflies and other beneficial insects, making this plant a useful addition to biodiversity gardens, pollinator plantings and low native habitat designs. Foliage and Growth Habit The foliage is fleshy, rounded and succulent, helping the plant store moisture and tolerate dry conditions. The stems spread along the ground and may root at the nodes, allowing the plant to form a dense stabilising mat over time. Round-leaf pigface is generally low-growing, making it useful as a native groundcover between larger shrubs, along path edges, over low walls, in rockeries or as a spillover plant in large containers. Its spreading growth can help shade soil and reduce erosion where drainage is good. Edible Uses The leaves and fruit of Disphyma crassifolium are edible. The leaves are sometimes used as a salty native vegetable, while the fruit can be eaten when ripe. As with all edible native plants, only eat material that has been correctly identified and grown without chemical treatment. Cultivation Soil: Best grown in well-drained soil. Suitable for sandy, gravelly, loamy and lightly clay-based soils where water drains freely. It is especially useful in coastal, saline and exposed sites, but should not be planted in permanently wet or poorly drained soil. Sunlight: Prefers full sun for dense growth and best flowering. It may tolerate light shade, but flowering is usually strongest in open, sunny positions. Watering: Water regularly while establishing. Once established, Disphyma crassifolium is drought tolerant and needs little supplementary water except during extended dry periods or when grown in pots. Frost tolerance: Frost tolerant once established, particularly in well-drained soil. Young plants may benefit from some protection while settling in. Drought and salt tolerance: Drought tolerant and salt tolerant once established. A strong choice for coastal gardens, exposed sunny sites, dry native gardens, saline soils and low-water landscapes. Pruning and maintenance: Trim lightly as needed to manage spread, shape edges or keep growth away from paths and neighbouring plants. Avoid overwatering and heavy feeding, as this can encourage soft growth. Uses Low native succulent groundcover. Coastal, sandy and salt-tolerant planting. Dry banks, rockeries, retaining walls and verge gardens. Large pots, hanging edges and spillover plantings. Edible native plant for bush food gardens. Habitat gardens for native bees, hoverflies and butterflies. Erosion control where soil is well drained. Low-water and drought-tolerant native garden designs. Habitat Value Disphyma crassifolium is valuable in low native plantings because it protects soil, creates ground-level cover and provides flowers for beneficial insects. Its dense spreading growth can help create a more layered and resilient habitat garden when combined with shrubs, grasses, daisies and other native groundcovers. It pairs well with other hardy Australian native plants such as Chrysocephalum, Rhagodia, Myoporum, Dianella, Eremophila, saltbushes, native daisies and coastal shrubs. Growing Tips Plant in full sun with excellent drainage. Water through establishment, then reduce watering once the plant is growing strongly. For containers, use a free-draining native potting mix and avoid saucers that hold water. In rich or irrigated garden beds, monitor spread and prune as needed. In exposed, dry or coastal positions, Disphyma crassifolium is generally very low-maintenance once established. Shipping Note At Sylvaterre Native Nursery, every plant is treated with care and respect. Unlike many online nurseries that ship tubestock lying flat — often stacked on top of each other in standard Australia Post boxes — all Sylvaterre plants are shipped upright in custom-made cardboard plant boxes. This helps ensure they arrive healthy, happy, and ready to thrive in your garden or pots. See our shipping cartons in the image gallery.