Carpobrotus edulis is a robust perennial that forms a dense mat of multiple trailing stems. It has large green, smooth and succulent leaves that are erect, opposite, three-angled and fused at the base.

The flowers are large, they may be 8 cm across, are positioned at the branch ends and yellow in colour, but turn pink with age. The style and stigma can be seen among the stamens in the flower in picture. The base of the flower tapers from the five sepal lobes to the pedicel around a succulent fruit that develops fleshy capsules.

The fruits are sought after, eaten by several animal species, as well as by people. Housewives make jam of them.

These plants grows along the coast in the west and south of South Africa and inland in the Western Cape.