A succulent ground cover that looks slightly alien and is very New Zealand. Disphyma australe, known as horokaka or NZ ice plant, grows along the coast where salt spray and wind would kill most other plants. It is fleshy, glistening, almost otherworldly. It spreads across rocks and sand, forming thick mats of green and purple. The leaves are thick, succulent, triangular in cross-section. They are bright green, sometimes tinged with purple or pink. They store water, allowing the plant to survive long dry spells. The flowers are pink or purple, daisy-like, with many narrow petals. They open in full sun and close at night. They appear in spring and summer. Disphyma australe grows on coastal cliffs, sand dunes, saltmarshes, and rocky shores. It likes salt. It likes wind. It likes sun. It grows where other plants struggle. The plant is an important stabiliser of coastal soils. Its creeping stems hold sand in place. Its roots bind the ground. It is often the first coloniser of bare coastal sites. Horokaka is the Māori name. The plant was known for its succulent leaves, which provided moisture in dry coastal areas. The leaves are edible, with a salty, slightly sour taste. They were used as a thirst quencher. The species is native to New Zealand and nearby islands. It belongs here. It is part of the coastal ecosystem. The name australe means southern. The plant is a southern ice plant, distinct from the South African species that have become weeds elsewhere. NZ ice plant is not to be confused with the exotic ice plant (Carpobrotus edulis), which is a different species. The exotic ice plant is weedy. Horokaka is not. In gardens, Disphyma australe is valued as a coastal ground cover. It tolerates salt spray. It does not need much water. It is a good choice for seaside gardens. It also grows well in containers. The flowers attract native bees. The leaves provide cover for small lizards. The plant is part of the coastal ecosystem. Horokaka is not threatened. It is common along the coast. But coastal development is reducing its habitat. Climate change and sea level rise may also affect it. Disphyma australe is a reminder. The edges of the land have their own plants. Adapted. Resilient. Native. Slightly alien-looking.