Purple Carpet Ice Plant

Purple carpet is a low-growing South African succulent with small fleshy leaves and showy pink to purple flowers. SANBI describes a ground-hugging plant; its horticultural catalog gives approximately 50 mm height. Provide well-drained soil and confirm local climate, water and space requirements with the supplier. Cape Town’s veldfire guide lists Drosanthemum spp. as succulent groundcovers; this species is one representative of that broad genus row, not a separately named assessment of every species or cultivar. Maintain suitable clearance, remove dead material and prevent unwanted spread. No plant is fireproof. Sources: https://pza.sanbi.org/drosanthemum-floribundum ; https://redlist.sanbi.org/species.php?species=170-40 ; https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Procedures%2C%20guidelines%20and%20regulations/Ukuvuka%20Veldfire%20Related%20Planning%20Guidelines%202004-04-29.pdf ## Cape Town — 2004 barrier table scope and maintenance The [Cape Town veldfire planning guidelines](https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Procedures%2C%20guidelines%20and%20regulations/Ukuvuka%20Veldfire%20Related%20Planning%20Guidelines%202004-04-29.pdf), Annexure 1, section 3.3, include the following source entry or entries: Table 4 (Groundcovers): “Drosanthemum spp.” / Vygie. A species or named hybrid is a qualified representative of the printed genus group, not an individual assessment or a designation of every member. The city's PDF timed out during this audit; these table cells and adjacent conditions were checked in the [indexed copy of the same April 2004 document](https://www.scribd.com/document/790764685/Ukuvuka-Veldfire-Related-Planning-Guidelines-2004-04-29). This records that historical source's guidance; check current local requirements and suitability before use. General source conditions: use broad-leaved, moisture-rich plants as potential screens at the fireward property edge; maintain an easy-to-walk-through garden and leaf litter no more than 15 mm deep. Avoid flammable plants under decks, against walls/wooden pillars or in hanging baskets. Remove accumulated garden refuse and dead material. No source listing guarantees survival or prevents all burning. Groundcover barriers are intended to remain low and reduce the passage of flames through the garden. Succulent leaf moisture helps, but persistent dead aloe leaves must be removed. Remove dry seasonal stems, especially on annual species; keep adjacent lawn short and avoid a continuous grass route from the boundary to the house. The broad “other prostrate ground covers” row remains unassigned and does not designate all groundcovers.