Rote Mittagsblume

Requires a well-drained sandy soil in a sunny position. Plants can be grown on dry walls or in the flower border. Established plants are very drought resistant. Very resistant to wind and salt spray. Moderately fire-retardant. Plants are not very frost resistant and can be killed by temperatures below about -2°c. They have naturalized themselves on cliffs along the coast of S. Britain but do not succeed inland unless grown in a sunny sheltered position. A vigorous prostrate plant, rooting as it spreads. The flowers only open in the afternoon.

Edible Parts: Fruit Leaves Edible Uses: Fruit - raw. There is very little flesh in the fruit and it must be fully ripe otherwise it is very astringent[K]. Insipid. Leaves - raw or cooked. Very mucilaginous, we find it very hard to enjoy them[K].

Fire retardant Soil stabilization Planted in maritime areas to prevent soil erosion in sandy soils and on steep banks. Plants form a dense carpet and make an effective ground cover. The plant is moderately fire-resistant and can be used in barrier plantings to prevent the spread of forest fires.

Heimisch: Africa, BR, Cape Provinces, NO, Portugal [I]; Spain [I]; Baleares [I]; France [I]; Channel Isl. [I]; Corsica [I]; Sardinia [I]; Italy [I]; Sicily [I]; Pantelleria [I]; Croatia [I]; Greece [I]; Crete [I]; Morocco [I]; Libya [I]; Canary Isl. [I] (Gran Canaria [I]); South Africa (W-Cape Prov.); East Aegaean Isl. [I] (Rhodos [I]); Cyprus [I], SouthAfrica, SouthernAfrica_FSA, São Jorge Island, TR, WesternCape, ZA Eingeführt: AT, Austria, Azores, BA, Baleares, Belgium, Canary Is., Corse (Corsica), ES, England, France, GB, Great Britain, HR, IL, IR, IT, Italy, Libya, MA, MT, Malta, Morocco, PT, Palestine, Portugal, Portugal Continental, Sardegna (Sardinia), Sicilia, Spain, Spain | Atlantic Ocean, TR, The Netherlands