Delosperma

( dee - loh - SPERM - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

Commonly called Ice Plant, this genus of flowering succulent perennials includes species which need light afternoon shade in the hottest climates of its zone range, and moderate to regular water for best performance in the garden. These plants are native to South Africa and green leaves will usually turn red with cooler weather. This is a large group of Ice Plants, and can be used both as groundcovers and in rock gardens. They are also useful in container gardens, xeriscaping, and as filler plants for mixed beds and borders.

Delosperma Species and Varietals

The genus Delosperma is a member of the plant family Aizoaceae and includes around 170 species.These plants grow best in USDA hardiness zones 5-10 or Sunset growing zones 2-24, though this varies somewhat by species. For more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Delosperma 'Alba' (White Trailing Ice Plant)
This spreading plant grows best in USDA hardiness zones 5-9 or Sunset growing zones 12-24, and roots freely from its stems. Leaves are round, and flowers bloom in summer, attracting bees to your garden. Good groundcover when planted about a foot apart.

Delosperma basuticum (White-Eyed Ice Plant)
This plant grows best in USDA hardiness zones 4a-7b or Sunset zones 1-24, reaching just a half inch tall and 9 inches wide. Foliage is rounded and bright yellow flowers have white centers. Blooms in spring and early summer. Cultivar 'White Nugget' produces white flowers with cream-colored centers.

Delosperma cooperi (Mesembryanthemum cooperi) (Trailing Iceplant, Hardy Iceplant, Pink Carpet, Cooper's Ice Plant, Purple Ice Plant)
Plants in this species reach 3 inches tall and 1.5 feet wide at maturity. Leaves are green and cylindrical and purple flowers bloom all summer long. This dwarf perennial plant is native to South Africa, and recovers rapidly after damage. Hardy down to -20 degrees Fahrenheit. This species is considered potentially invasive along the west coast of North America.

Delosperma dyeri (Red Mountain Ice Plant)
This species of Ice Plant gets 2-4 inches tall and 10-20 inches wide. Has a mat-like habit and produces pink-red flowers in summer that fade to bronze with creamy white centers. Great as a drought-tolerant groundcover. Popular cultivars of this species include 'Fire Spinner' (with bright red-orange flowers), 'Red Mountain' (a compact grower with red blooms), and 'Red Mountain Flame'.

Delosperma echinatum (Pickle Plant, Pickle Cactus)
These plants are native to South Africa, and have spiny-looking leaves covered with white to translucent hairs. They typically form mats of green succulent foliage and prefer to grow in rocky habitats. Flowers are tiny and pale yellow. Pickle Plants grow well in USDA hardiness zones 7-11. This succulent is considered invasive in coastal California from Humboldt County through Baja California, Mexico.

Delosperma floribundum (Ice Plant, Hardy Ice Plant)
This species has a clumping habit and reaches 2 inches tall and 10-18 inches wide at maturity. Flowers are pink/magenta, and bloom in late spring into fall. A popular cultivar of this species is 'Starburst' (pictured), with vibrant lilac-purple flowers with white centers.

Delosperma spp. Hybrids (Hybrid Delosperma)
All of these varieties make wonderful groundcovers, and produce eye-catching shows of bright flowers that bloom in spring and summertime, typically in shades of pink and salmon. These plants grow well in USDA hardiness zones 2-24.

'Kelaidis'
(Mesa Verde Ice Plant)
Cold-tolerant, vigorous grower to 2 inches tall and 1-2 feet wide. Flowers are pale salmon-colored.

'John Proffitt'
(Table Mountain Ice Plant)
This species grows to 2 inches tall and 1-2 feet wide, and has pink flowers.

'Psfave'
(Lavender Ice Plant)
Pale lavender flowers on a 2-inch tall plant that spreads to 1-2 feet.

Delosperma lehmannii (Ice Plant, Chain Plant)
These plants are commonly grown as houseplants in many regions around the globe, and are native to the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. They are small plants with light greyish-green foliage and yellow to straw-colored flowers. This species grows well in USDA hardiness zones 9a-11b.

Delosperma nubigenum (Hardy Yellow Ice Plant)
Gets to just an inch tall and spreads to three feet wide. Leaves turn red in cold weather, and in late spring, blooms appear in bright golden-yellow. Cultivars include 'Lesotho Pink' with deep pink flowers, 'Orange Glow' with warm-toned blooms, 'Blut' with deep magenta-red flowers, and 'Fire Spinner' with tri-color blooms in lavender, orange, and red.

Caring for Delosperma

Plant Delosperma, or Ice Plant, in a space in the landscape that receives full sun; ideally, they appreciate between 6 and 8 hours of sun each day for the best blooms. Space these groundcover plants 12 to 18 inches apart for best coverage and airflow. Ensure that soil is well-draining, rich in nutrients, and has a pH of between 6.0 and 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Apply a layer of rock mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention.

Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system in their new home. At maturity, these plants are considered very drought-tolerant, able to get by on rainwater alone for much of the year with supplemental irrigation during extended periods of dry, hot weather. Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. Pruning is simple; remove any damaged, diseased, or dead foliage at any time during the growing season, and remove spent flower spikes to neaten up the appearance of plants and encourage reblooms. Delosperma plants typically survive for 3-5 years in the garden, though with ideal conditions and proper care, they can thrive for decades before needing to be replaced.

Propagation

Delosperma can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your Ice Plant, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Delosperma by Cutting

Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. A good substrate for propagation of cuttings is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
In early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new Ice Plant.

Propagating Delosperma by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
Harvest your seeds. Once seed pods have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will continue to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 14 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.

Problems and Pests

Certain species of Ice Plant described above are considered invasive in some regions. Check with local authorities before planting. Delosperma, or Ice Plant, can be susceptible to developing issues with the following pests and diseases: