The entire plant is edible and relished by various animals such as tortoises and mammals such as hare, baboons and several small and large antelope.

The dense stands of Carpobrotus quadrifidus form ideal micro-habitats for several rodents, insects and reptiles which find shelter underneath the trailing branches. Seeds of many plants also benefit from the cooler, moister conditions which exist inside or underneath the plants and will germinate more successfully inside the extensive clumps of C. quadrifidus plants. The importance of C. quadrifidus and other perennial plants occurring in sandy areas can therefore not be overemphasised as they play a vital role in dune rehabilitation and the general ecology of coastal vegetation. Carpobrotus quadrifidus, as with other members of the genus, utilises its bright flower colour to attract pollinators such as bees, beetles and ants, and once the fruits have ripened, mammals willingly feed on the ripe and dried fruits in the late summer.

Whereas seed dispersal in other mesembs occurs through wind and rain, in Carpobrotus a different strategy is used. Once fruits are eaten, the seeds are carried through the digestive systems of the animals and, when excreted, germinate readily provided sufficient rain has fallen.