Carpobrotus rossii aka Beach Bananas

Carpobrotus rossii is a low succulent subshrub in the Aizoaceae family. It also goes by the common name karkalla. Kew places its native range in southern and southeastern Australia. Plants For A Future lists Tasmania, South Australia, Victoria, and Western Australia. Its wild habitat includes coastal dunes with white or grey sand. Kew classes its climate as subtropical. It is not native to Britain or Ireland, according to the RHS.

This perennial grows close to the ground rather than forming a tall shrub. Plants For A Future gives its height as about 0.7 feet (0.2 metres). Its listed spread reaches about 3.3 feet (1 metre). These dimensions make it much wider than it is tall. The supplied sources do not describe its stems or leaves in detail. They also give no details about bark, flower colour, or fruit. The flowers contain both male and female organs. The evidence gives no flowering season or pollination method.

In cultivation, this plant can grow in sun or light shade. Plants For A Future lists sandy, loamy, and clay soils as suitable. Good drainage matters across these different soil types. Its dune habitat does not mean it needs sand in gardens. It accepts mildly acid, neutral, and mildly alkaline soil. It can grow in either dry or moist ground. It also withstands drought, which supports its use where water runs short. These are broad tolerances, rather than a need for wet soil. The source lists USDA hardiness zones 8–11. It also gives a UK zone of 9, without an RHS hardiness rating.

Plants For A Future lists cultivated beds as a garden setting. Its low height and broad spread suit the front of a bed. The evidence provides no growth rate or detailed maintenance guidance. It names no pests or diseases for this species. It also reports no weed potential, though that is one source's assessment. Plants For A Future records no known edible, medicinal, or other uses. It assigns each use category a zero rating. These entries describe the database's records, not proof of toxicity. The same source reports no known hazards. That statement does not establish safety for people or pets.