Drosanthemum

( dros - ANTH - em - um )

At-A-Glance Information

These natives of South Africa are succulent perennials commonly called Ice Plants or Dewflowers. Species in the genus need full sun and little to moderate water to perform well in the garden. Leaves are covered with bumps that mimic ice crystals or dew drops (hence their common names), and brightly colored flowers bloom from late spring to early summer. These plants can endure very poor soils, but should be planted in an area that does not receive a lot of foot traffic, as they will not hold up well. They look great in or out of bloom, and serve as natural weed prevention. Use Ice Plants as groundcovers or container plants in drought-tolerant gardens. They are also handy for preventing erosion on sandy slopes and banks.

Drosanthemum Species and Varietals

The genus Drosanthemum is a member of the Ice Plant family, Aizoaceae, and includes between 90 and 120 distinct species. Drosanthemum grows best in USDA hardiness zones 9a-11b or Sunset growing zones 14-24 and H1. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Drosanthemum floribundum (Rosea Ice Plant, Showy Dewflower, Pale Dewplant, Rodondo Creeper, Magic Carpet)
This species of Ice Plant gets 6 inches tall and has a trailing habit. This plant is great for reducing erosion on hillsides. Flowers are pale pink with yellow centers and attract bees and other pollinators to the garden. Plant 1.5 feet apart for best coverage and performance as a groundcover. This species is considered highly invasive in California (United States), Portugal and the Azores, the Mediterranean region, and Australia.

Drosanthemum hispidum (Hairy Dewflower, Rosea Ice Plant, Miniature Pigface, Fyn T'nouroebos)
This perennial species produces plants that reach 2 feet tall and 3 feet wide at maturity. They produce profuse, showy, purple-pink to magenta daisy-like flowers in spring and summertime. These plants are considered invasive in California (United States) and the Mediterranean (including the Maltese Islands).

Drosanthemum speciosum (Royal Dewflower, Red Ice-Plant, Dew Flower Ice Plant, Rooivygie, Worcester-Robertson Vygie, Bergvygie)
Individual plants in this species reach up to 2 feet tall and 3 feet wide at maturity and produce bright orange-red flowers that have yellow centers. Royal Dewflower is considered an invasive species in Coastal California.

Caring for Drosanthemum

Plant Drosanthemum, or Dew Flower, 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. Drosanthemum plants typically survive for 3-7 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 Dew Flowers are considered invasive in some regions. For more information, see the species descriptions above. Check with local authorities before planting. Drosanthemum, or Dew Flower, is susceptible to developing issues with the following pests and diseases in the landscape: