[2] This is a succulent, creeping, short-lived, mat-forming perennial herb growing in flat clumps on the ground from a woody base.

The fleshy, small leaves are opposite, ovate to cordate, about 2.5 centimetres (0.98 in) long and covered with fine papillae.

[3] The common names of the plant include baby sun rose,[4] heart-leaf,[5] red aptenia[4] or aptenia[5] in English, as well as rooi brakvygie[4] or brakvygie[4][5] in Afrikaans, and umjuluka,[5][disputed (for: source possibly mistaken, umjuluka is word for Casearia gladiiformis)  – discuss] ibohlololo,[4] or uncolozi omncane[4] in isiZulu in South Africa.

[8] Perhaps the most common plant seen under this name in gardens is actually Mesembryanthemum 'Red Apple', a hybrid with more vigorous growth, red flowers and bright green leaves, whose parents are M. cordifolium and M. haeckelianum.

[9][10] Native to the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, this species has become widely known as an ornamental plant.

Today it can be found growing in Australia,[11] escaped gardens and naturalized in some parts of California, Oregon and Florida, in the Mediterranean region of the Europe and in central Mexico.

[12] M. cordifolium (A. cordifolia) contains the serotonin reuptake inhibitor and monoamine releasing agent alkaloid mesembrine and demethylmesembrenol.

[14] Mesembryanthemum cordifolium can be planted as a fast-growing, not hardy, groundcover in flower boxes and around traffic lights.

It easily reproduces from cuttings of the developed stems, roots, seeds of its capsular fruit, and even from its own buried leaves.