Cephalophyllum

( sef - al - oh - FILL - um )

At-A-Glance Information

These succulent perennials grow best in full sun to partial shade, and need moderate to regular waterings for best performance. They are commonly known as Vygies, Ice Plants or Carpet Weeds, and their flowers will attract bees to the garden. They are native to western South Africa and southern Namibia. Individual plants reach 3-5 inches tall and have a spreading habit to 15-18 inches wide. Leaves are green to bronze in color, and point straight upwards. Blooms pop in winter or early spring, and can be somewhat sporadic in the off-seasons. This plant is great when used as a groundcover.

Cephalophyllum Species and Varietals

The genus Cephalophyllum is a member of the plant family Aizoaceae and includes about 36 distinct species. ​These plants grow best in USDA hardiness zones 9b-11 or Sunset growing zones 8, 9 and 11-24 (to find your zone, click here: Zone Map).

Cephalophylllum diversiphyllum (Diversiphyllum Rush, Diversiphyllum Spear Grass, Vygie, Carpet Weed)
This species is endemic to the Western Cape Province in South Africa. It forms a compact, succulent groundcover with linear green fleshy leaves and yellow to peach-colored flowers. Plants have a tendency to form a central tuft of foliage from which branching stems emerge. These plants prefer to grow in rocky, sandy areas with well-draining soils.

Cephalophyllum pillansii (Yellow Spike Iceplant, Redcentre Starfig, Pillansii Spear Rush, Pillansii Rush, Pillansii Spear Grass)
This plant species produces blue-green foliage with a whitish-grey bloom. These plants are endemic to the western Namaqualand Velt in Namibia and South Africa. Flowers are yellow. Individual plants reach up to 3-12 inches tall and have a spread of 6-12 inches wide.

Cephalophyllum purpureo-album (Starfig)
This compact succulent groundcover plant produces dark green, slender leaves and rich yellow (sometimes but rarely purple) flowers. In high rainfall areas, leaves are thicker. These plants are native to a range in the southern area of Western Cape Province, South Africa. These plants reach up to 2 feet wide and a few inches tall.

Cephalophyllum subulatoides
This species is endemic to the eastern areas of the Western Cape Province in South Africa. They form compact succulent groundcovers, and produce dark green, triangular leaves. Flowers are pale purple. Plants spread via underground rhizomes. Individual plants reach up to 6 inches tall and have a spread of a few feet.

Caring for Cephalophyllum

These plants are perennials in their native range and are commonly grown as annuals in areas with cooler climates. Install individual plants between 6 and 12 inches apart for best coverage as a groundcover plant. They prefer to be planted in full sun, and perform best when they receive between 6 and 8 hours of sun each day. In areas with much higher temperatures, they appreciate some late afternoon shade. Ensure that soil is well-draining; these plants typically grow in sandy or rocky substrates and do not perform well in standing water. They prefer a soil pH of between 6.6 and 7.8 (slightly acidic to slightly alkaline). Water young plants regularly until they establish a strong root system; mature plants are very drought tolerant, able to store excess water in their succulent foliage for use during times of drought. Prune and pinch plants to keep them compact and tidy. Cephalophyllum plants do not need to be fertilized.

Caring for Cephalophyllum in Containers
Cultivating these plants in pots is a great idea especially in more temperate or cooler-temperature regions of the world. The advantage to this technique is that the plants can be brought inside before freezing temperatures hit, ensuring their survival until the following spring. In containers, make sure that these plants have adequate drainage and are planted in a sandy mix. Potting soil specifically made for succulents is an adequate growing medium for Cephalophyllum plants. Cut back plants in wintertime when they are brought indoors, and make sure that they are receiving as much sunlight as possible in their temporary home. Lessen waterings while the plants are dormant during this time. In springtime, resume regular waterings and move plants back outside after the threat of frost has passed to a sunny location.

Propagation

Cephalophyllum can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your Carpet Weed, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Cephalophyllum by Cutting
  1. Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. A good substrate for propagation of cuttings is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
  2. In spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
  3. Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
  4. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage the new plant.

Propagating Cephalophyllum by Seed
  1. Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
  2. Harvest your seeds. The seed heads on these plants are pretty easy to spot, left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will begin to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
  3. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 7-14 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
  4. Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.

Problems and Pests

Cephalophyllum, or Carpet Weed, can be susceptible to developing issues with the following pests and diseases in the landscape:
  • Mealybugs
  • Spider Mites
  • Scale Insects
  • Root Rot
For more information on these pests and diseases, including how to treat and prevent them, see the following pages:
​

Gallery

Cephalophyllum plants make great, drought-tolerant groundcovers for sandy or rocky areas.
These plants can be grown in the ground or in containers.
Cephalophyllum will spread over time, but are not considered invasive.

Videos

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Resources

Wikipedia: Cephalophyllum
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 231, Cephalophyllum 'Red Spike'