Ice plants (Delosperma) are a simple-to-grow and prolific blooming ground cover alternative if you’re seeking for a colorful solution to fill up space in the yard. These heat-loving perennials, which are native to South Africa, may be the center of attention in the landscape, but they actually do best when given a little bit of a break.
They are attractive additions to rock gardens, borders, pots, and ground covers due to their quick growth and constant bursts of joyful, daisy-like blooms. These floral carpets are resistant to deer and attract butterflies, bees, and other helpful pollinators.
Enjoy heaps of stunning color year after year by following our advice on how to grow and care for ice plant ground cover!
Is ice plant a yearly plant?
In the drier, less humid regions of the western US, ice plants are most consistently perennial. Delosperma will live longer in the zone 6-8 regions of the Appalachian mountains and Eastern Seaboard but tend to be annuals in the cold, damp zone 4 and 5 climates like Madison, Chicago, and Cincinnati. (Remember that in wetter climates, many drought-tolerant plants are one or two zones less cold hardy.) It should be noted that Ice Plants are fast-growing and colorful when they cascade over the sides of their pots, thus they should only be used as container plants in areas where they are annuals in the ground.
Are ice plants regenerated annually?
Are Ice Plants Resurrected Each Year? Although this plant remains evergreen for the majority of the year, the winter months cause the foliage to die back. But throughout the early to late spring season, fresh growth appears from the seed.
Ice plants’ lifespan is unknown.
Delosperma, a succulent perennial ground cover with daisy-like flowers, is known as the hardy ice plant. The reason the ice plant is called an ice plant—rather than because it can withstand freezing temperatures—is because its blossoms and foliage appear to be sparkling with frost or ice crystals. The plants eventually reach heights of 3 to 6 inches (7.5 to 15 cm) and widths of 2 to 4 feet (0.5 to 1 m).
The majority of the summer and fall are when ice plant blooms bloom. They may be grown in USDA plant hardiness zones 5–9. Because the majority of their foliage is evergreen, they make excellent year-round ground covers. Despite being evergreen, the plant frequently experiences some wintertime foliage dieback.
Among the most well-known ice plant variants are:
- Ice factory Cooper’s (Delosperma cooperi) The most prevalent type is this purple ice plant.
- robust yellow (Delosperma brunnthaleri)
- This plant has beautiful yellow flowers.
- A type of ice plant called Starburst (Delosperma floribundum) has pink blooms with a white center.
Can ice plants be kept inside?
The blossoms of the ice plant must be in full sunlight for them to open. Inside, a south or west-facing window’s direct, bright light will do. The plant requires full light all day long outside or, in hotter climes, full sun in the morning and little afternoon shade. The ideal growing medium for ice plants is light, well-drained soil. High-quality potting soil and an equal amount of coarse sand are necessary for plants grown in containers in order to provide appropriate drainage. Indoor plants should be grown in containers with drainage holes, while outdoor plants should be spaced at least 12 to 18 inches apart to allow for growth.
- Depending on the variety, the ice plant, also known as Lampranthus, bears lovely, daisy-like flowers in hues of red, orange, yellow, pink, purple, or cream.
- The plant requires full light all day long outside or, in hotter climes, full sun in the morning and little afternoon shade.
Are dogs hazardous to ice plants?
The ASPCA recommends planting ice plants of practically all species around both dogs and cats. Particularly the purple ice plant is secure in yards with roaming pets.
How much time does ice plant take to spread?
If they reside in an environment that is too cold, the Ice Plant is prone to extinction. Fortunately, if you live indoors, you won’t have to worry about them growing back under these circumstances.
For their small, these succulents can cover a decent amount of ground. They can expand to a width of up to four feet. They usually don’t grow much during this process, which only takes a few brief months.
Aloe and other succulents have been utilized for a variety of purposes. The Ice Plant operates similarly. Their leaves are harmless to both people and animals. Others can brew teas out of them, while other people use them in salads.
Does ice plant suffocate weeds?
Unfortunately, iceplant is invasive throughout coastal California, from north of Humboldt County to as far south as Baja California, and it spreads quickly. When it settles in a place, it creates a massive, dense mat that suffocates all other native plants and changes the soil’s chemical composition.
Do ice plants require full sunlight?
Ice plant quickly creates a low carpet of succulent foliage that adds texture and interest even when these sun-loving perennials are not in bloom, making them ideal for sunny slopes or rock gardens. Once established, there are few plants that are simpler to manage because they don’t need any specific maintenance. The term “ice plant” refers to the tiny, shimmering spots that appear to be ice crystals on the leaf. Ice plant, which may reach a height of 6 to 8 inches, blooms all summer long with vivid daisy-like flowers in purple, pink, or yellow. It resists drought and deer. Zones 5-9.
If you have any inquiries about caring for ice plants, please email us, and one of our specialists will respond.
Ice Plant Growing Instructions
Ice plants need a bright location with at least 6 to 8 hours of daily direct sunlight. Although it can survive little shade, it doesn’t blossom as much.
Put it in a soil that drains nicely. The ice plant despises clay and poorly draining soils; if it is planted in an area where there is persistent standing water, it frequently perishes. Ice plants should be planted on a hillside or slope where the soil will swiftly drain after a storm for the greatest results. It works well on raised beds and mounds as well.
Pruning the ice plant is not a concern. This low-maintenance groundcover doesn’t require fertilizing in the majority of soil types, although you can if you’d like.
Add these types to your Ice Plant to complete it:
Agave A few Agaves scattered around the bed will provide an Ice Plant border drama and interest.
Island poppies Iceland Poppy can be used to add splashes of vibrant spring color to your Ice Plant.
Together, Sedum Sedums and Ice Plant make a wonderful combo because they are both equally tolerant of drought and have beautiful leaves.
Varieties: Our Favorites
On sunny, well-drained areas, the classic type of Ice Plant’s gem-like, reddish-purple flowers spread a colorful carpet. From June through September, it blooms. It expands to be 24 inches broad and 6 inches tall. Zones 6-10
Garnet is a wonderful member of the Jewel of the Desert family and blooms from spring to fall with reddish-pink flowers. The Jewel of the Desert Garnet has a 24 inch width and a 6 inch height. Zones 5-9
With the snow-white blossoms of the ice plant “Desert Moonstone,” you may cool up hot, sunny areas of your landscaping. The center of each blossom is bright yellow. It blooms from spring through fall and is 6 inches tall and 24 inches broad. Zones 5-9
A must-have choice for rock gardens and slopes, “Peridot” ice plant has bright yellow flowers with white centers. It grows to a 6-inch-tall, cheery groundcover that can withstand drought. From late spring through early October, it blooms. Zones 5-9
This variety features blossoms that are colorful! The flower has a white center that heats to a golden-yellow, then an orange, and ultimately a red color at the margins. It expands to be 24 inches broad and 6 inches tall. Zones 5-9
‘Jewels of the Desert Topaz’ ice plant produces multitudes of amber flowers with white centers all through the summer. It is hardy in Zones 5-9. It grows just 6 to 8 inches tall, like other ice plant kinds.
This perennial groundcover has many benefits, including slow growth, tolerance to dryness, and lengthy flowering. It blooms intermittently from spring to fall, reaching heights of 6 inches and a width of 24 inches. Zones 6-9
Wow! Hot pink flowers are intermittently available all season long on this simple groundcover. Furthermore, it is almost “plant it and forget it” easy to maintain. The Wheels of Wonder Hot Pink ice plant spreads out to be 24 inches wide and 6 inches tall. Zones 6-9
If you want vibrant orange blossoms in your garden, plant this low-maintenance groundcover. It grows 6 inches tall and 24 inches broad and blooms intermittently during the spring, summer, and fall. Zones 6-9
invading ice plant
This plant is extremely recognizable along the California Coast; you may see vivid green carpets spreading out alongside the sparkling ocean along roadways. As these blooms grow, areas of hot pink, yellow, or even purple are frequently visible. Despite the beautiful view, their impact on the dune ecosystems in California does not have the same impact.
In our dunes, Carpobrotus, often known as ice plant, is simply a large weed. It can often be found straight up to cliff edges in several of our parks. You would see it has succulent leaves that point straight up into the air like small columns if you decided to get near to it. The ice plant prefers to grow close to the ground with horizontal branches that interweave into broad mats as opposed to growing tall like a shrub.
Why is ice plant really a concern since it grows so well and has such a lovely appearance in California? Additionally, as you may recall from my earlier article, it is quite challenging for plants to thrive on dunes, so shouldn’t we be grateful that something is? As you may have seen, the ice plant is frequently the only vegetation in ice plant-populated locations. It is an invasive species, which explains why.
The ice plant is a South African native that was introduced to California in the early 1900s. We now find it stabilizing soil along highways where it was once used to stabilize soil near train tracks. Ice plant invaded our dune plant communities like a wildfire as an invasive species. We only observe ice plant in places where there may otherwise be up to 10 native species. As a result, our dunes are far less diverse and native plants are in risk of losing their already limited habitat.
The ice plant is supposed to help stabilize the soil, however it also performs poorly in that regard. It can get very heavy as a result of the shallow roots and branches rubbing up against one another. As a result, thick mats of the ice plant that are loaded with nutrients and dirt fall off of steep surfaces all at once.
In our neighborhood dunes, ice plant has developed into a major issue that is very difficult to manage. You can utilize biological, manual or mechanical, and chemical management methods to eradicate an invasive species or any species. Currently, there is no biological means to get rid of ice plants, and burning them is inefficient due to their high water content.
By physically extracting and removing the plant from the area, either manually or mechanically, is the most efficient way to get rid of it. Every piece of waste must be taken out because the plant can re-sprout from any part.
Glyphosate, a chemical control herbicide, has also been discovered to be efficient, but one should always exercise caution when employing chemical techniques close to natural flora and water supplies. To totally eradicate the ice plant, it will take both approaches years of monitoring and follow-up clearance.
We’ve already started the battle against ice plant, but there’s still a ways to go! We can strive to restore our lovely natural dunes if we cooperate.
How wide a spread do ice plants make?
The succulent evergreen has three-sided leaves that grow into a thick, mushy mat of green on the plant with dazzling blossoms. The common ice plant has a growth range of six inches to one foot with a root structure that spreads quickly. It is a fantastic choice as a groundcover due to its striking foliage and warm season color. Depending on the kind, the common ice plant bears tiny, aster-like flowers in hues of red, pink, purple, or magenta. From early July until the fall, the flowers are spectacular. Its blooms do not set seed and are infertile. Use it in sunny gardens, train it to fall down a wall, or plant it near pools and water features or in rock gardens. In severely degraded locations, the common ice plant can also be used as a bank cover by embedding roots in the ground. As a result of its tolerance for salty environments, it is a great choice for beachside landscaping. When the plant is young, cover it with chicken wire to prevent rabbits from eating it. The ice plant is indigenous to South Africa, Chile, and the Pacific coast from Oregon to Baja California. Its scientific name, Chilensis, is derived from Chile’s Latin name. In some places, the plant has the potential to spread rapidly.
Can ice plants endure snow?
Before winter, let your ice plant dry off so that it isn’t languishing in overly moist soil. If snow cover is anticipated in your region, mulch the ice plant with straw or another dry mulch to keep it dry throughout the winter.