Cold hardiness & minimum temperature

Is Sabre-Leaved Hottentot Fig (Carpobrotus acinaciformis)cold hardy? Hardiness zone & min temp

Also called Sabre-leaved hottentot fig, Sally-my-handsome, Giant pigface, Sour fig.

More about sabre-leaved hottentot fig

About Sabre-Leaved Hottentot Fig

Carpobrotus acinaciformis · also called Sabre-leaved hottentot fig, Sally-my-handsome · tropical

Carpobrotus acinaciformis is a vigorous, prostrate, mat-forming succulent native to the coastal cliffs and dunes of South Africa, now widely naturalised along the Mediterranean basin, the Canary Islands, and the milder coasts of southern Britain. It produces large, striking magenta to deep pink daisy-like flowers and thick, sabre-shaped, waxy succulent leaves that store water for drought survival. The single most important care point is excellent drainage and full sun — waterlogged or shaded conditions cause rapid rotting of its succulent stems. The sap of Carpobrotus species can cause skin and digestive irritation; it is classified as mildly toxic to pets due to its irritant compounds.

Cold limit: USDA 9-11 · RHS H2 (-2°C to 35°C)

What sabre-leaved hottentot fig's hardiness rating actually means

Sabre-Leaved Hottentot Fig is half-hardy (RHS H2). It survives a mild winter outdoors in a sheltered spot, but a hard frost kills it — so in colder zones it is lifted, potted, or grown as a tender plant. Its RHS rating of H2 means: Tender — survives a frost-free greenhouse or a very mild, sheltered spot. On the US scale that maps to USDA 9-11 — the zones where it can be left outdoors year-round.

New to these scales? The USDA hardiness zone map explained covers how the zone numbers work, and you can find your own zone with the zone finder.

Minimum temperature — and what happens below it

Minimum survivable temperature is roughly about 1 to 5 °C — tolerates cold but no real frost. Sabre-Leaved Hottentot Fig shrugs off cold nights but a real, sustained freeze will kill it.

Concretely, for sabre-leaved hottentot fig as it gets too cold:

Down to roughly about 1 to 5 °C it copes, especially if dry and sheltered.
A sustained hard frost collapses the top growth; whether it returns depends on whether the roots, crown or tubers froze.
Wet cold is far more lethal than dry cold for this plant — soggy, frozen soil is the usual killer.

Can sabre-leaved hottentot fig go outside or overwinter — and where?

It can live outside year-round only in the mildest, most sheltered part of USDA 9-11 or a frost-free UK microclimate.
In colder zones, grow it in a pot you can move under cover, or lift its tubers/roots and store them frost-free over winter.
A south-facing wall, free-draining soil and a dry winter position can push it a full zone hardier than the books suggest.

Work back from your local frost dates with the frost-date calculator: the last spring frost and first autumn frost are what really decide when sabre-leaved hottentot fig can be outside. US growers can check USDA zones; UK growers should use the RHS hardiness ratings, which match the H2 figure above.

Frost protection for borderline sabre-leaved hottentot fig

Sabre-Leaved Hottentot Fig is right on a hardiness edge in many gardens, so if you are pushing it, these measures buy it the margin it needs:

Mulch the crown or root zone deeply with bark, straw or leaf-mould before the first hard frost.
Move container plants against a warm wall or into an unheated but frost-free porch or greenhouse.
Fleece the top growth on the coldest nights, and keep it on the dry side — dry roots survive cold far better than wet ones.
Lift dahlia-type tubers or tender crowns after the first light frost blackens the foliage and store them somewhere cool but frost-free.

Sabre-Leaved Hottentot Fig hardiness — frequently asked questions

Is sabre-leaved hottentot fig cold hardy?

Sabre-Leaved Hottentot Fig is half-hardy (RHS H2). It survives a mild winter outdoors in a sheltered spot, but a hard frost kills it — so in colder zones it is lifted, potted, or grown as a tender plant. Borderline outdoors. In its mild end of USDA 9-11 (and sheltered UK gardens) sabre-leaved hottentot fig can stay out; in colder areas it must be lifted, brought in, or treated as a frost-tender plant.

What is the minimum temperature sabre-leaved hottentot fig can survive?

Minimum survivable temperature is roughly about 1 to 5 °C — tolerates cold but no real frost. Sabre-Leaved Hottentot Fig shrugs off cold nights but a real, sustained freeze will kill it.

What hardiness zone is sabre-leaved hottentot fig?

Sabre-Leaved Hottentot Fig is rated USDA 9-11 and RHS H2 — Tender — survives a frost-free greenhouse or a very mild, sheltered spot.

Can sabre-leaved hottentot fig survive winter outside?

It can live outside year-round only in the mildest, most sheltered part of USDA 9-11 or a frost-free UK microclimate. In colder zones, grow it in a pot you can move under cover, or lift its tubers/roots and store them frost-free over winter. A south-facing wall, free-draining soil and a dry winter position can push it a full zone hardier than the books suggest.

How do I protect sabre-leaved hottentot fig from frost?

Mulch the crown or root zone deeply with bark, straw or leaf-mould before the first hard frost. Move container plants against a warm wall or into an unheated but frost-free porch or greenhouse. Fleece the top growth on the coldest nights, and keep it on the dry side — dry roots survive cold far better than wet ones. Lift dahlia-type tubers or tender crowns after the first light frost blackens the foliage and store them somewhere cool but frost-free.