Coppery mesemb

Malephora crocea is a species of succulent perennial flowering plant in the ice plant family known by the common names 'coppery mesemb' and 'red ice plant'. It is native to Southern Africa but is grown in many other regions of the world, primarily as an ornamental plant, but also as a fireproof groundcover. In parts of Southern California, and further south into Mexico's Baja California and Baja California Sur states, Malephora crocea is a non-native, introduced species, originally planted as highway landscaping in areas of low rainfall, and for early railroad track reinforcement, in the late 1800s. However, due to the many climatic similarities between the Baja California peninsula, Southern California and its native Southern Africa, the species has long been established, and now reseeds prolifically. It will even re-grow from undisturbed rootstock in the springtime.