Mesembryanthemum cordifolium

Native to South Africa, this evergreen succulent perennial spreads across the ground on creeping stems. Commonly called baby sun rose or heart-leaf ice-plant, it reaches about ten inches tall. Bright magenta to reddish flowers open during the brightest hours of the day, with many narrow coloured segments surrounding yellow stamens. The fleshy heart-shaped foliage stores water, and the plant occurs naturally in summer-rainfall regions. It spreads when creeping stems root at their nodes. It has become naturalized in California, Oregon, Florida and southern Europe. In California, vigorous growth can overwhelm neighboring vegetation along waterways and wetland margins. Photographed in Colombia.