Look closely. The rock is not bare. Native stonecrop is a small, succulent herb. It has fleshy, rounded leaves. They are edible and have a crisp, slightly sour flavour. They can be eaten raw in salads. The plant grows on coastal cliffs, rock outcrops and sand dunes. It is very drought-tolerant. It stores water in its fleshy leaves. The small, white flowers appear in summer. A plant that carries its own water bottle. The leaves are arranged in opposite pairs along the stem. They are thick and succulent. They are bright green and often tinged with red in full sun. The stems are slender and branching. They form small, cushion-like clumps. Looks assembled from spare parts that nearly fit. But the parts work. The flowers are small and white. They have four or five petals. They appear in summer and are followed by small, capsule-like fruits containing the seeds. Insects pollinate the flowers. A brief bloom. A hard life. Native stonecrop is a plant of the coastal zone. It grows on exposed cliffs, rocky outcrops, and sand dunes. It tolerates salt spray, strong winds, and long periods of drought. The succulent leaves store water. This allows the plant to survive in the driest conditions. A plant that has learned to wait for rain. To find native stonecrop is to walk the coastal cliffs and rocky shores. Look for the small, fleshy leaves. Look for the white flowers. It is a plant of the exposed places. A survivor of the dry coast. A few leaves can add a crisp, sour note to a salad. The cliff is bare. The wind whips the salt spray. The stonecrop hugs the rock. Fleshy leaves store every drop of moisture. It does not need much. It never has. And that seems to be enough for a plant that lives on the edge. Populations are considered stable but localised. The species is common in suitable coastal habitats throughout its range. It is threatened by ongoing coastal development. Protection of coastal cliffs is important.