Lampranthus

( lamp - RANTH - us )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus includes species of succulent flowering perennials known commonly as Ice Plants. They need full sun and little to no water to perform well in the garden. They hail from South Africa and produce some of the brightest flowers available at nurseries. Plants are fleshy and either erect or trailing. All are woody at their base. The flowers will attract bees and other pollinators to the garden. Use these plants as groundcovers, for erosion control on sunny sloped areas, in rock gardens, or in containers. They are highly effective in urban areas, growing well in retaining walls and parking strips.

Lampranthus Species and Varietals

This genus is a member of the plant family Aizoaceae and includes between 85 and 220 species. They are lose relatives of Delosperma, Drosanthemum, Lithops, Oscularia, and Carpobrotus. The genus name is derived from the Greek 'Lampranthus', which means 'shining flowers'. Ice Plants grow well in USDA hardiness zones 9-11 or Sunset growing zones 14-24, though this varies somewhat depending on the species. See the descriptions below for more information. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Lampranthus aurantiacus (Orange Bush Ice Plant, Orange Trailing Ice Plant, Orange Brightfig, Orange Ice Plant)
Gets 10-15 inches tall and has gray-green leaves. Flowers bloom in orange midwinter to springtime. Popular varieties include 'Glaucus' (with bright yellow flowers) and 'Sunman' (with golden yellow flowers). They should be planted about 15 inches apart for beds, borders, and bank covers. This species does well in USDA hardiness zones 9a-11b. Orange Ice Plant is considered invasive in California (United States) and Australia.

Lampranthus blandus (Pink Vygie, Ice Plant)
Grows best in USDA hardiness zones 9a-11b or Sunset growing zones 13-17 and 19-24; Pyramid-shaped leaves and 2-inch wide pale pink daisy flowers. Individual plants reach up to 12 to 24 inches tall and just as wide at maturity. Leaves are light green to minty green and somewhat succulent.

Lampranthus filicaulis (Redondo Creeper, Threadleaf Brightfig, Trailing Ice Plant)
This plant has thin, creeping stems and green foliage that seems to glisten in the sunlight. It spreads slowly to form green mats of foliage to 3 inches tall. These plants make a nice groundcover, mound, or low bank cover. Flowers are small and pink and bloom in early springtime. This species is considered highly invasive in California (United States) and Baja California (Mexico).

Lampranthus spectabilis (Trailing Ice Plant)
Grows best in USDA hardiness zones 8a-11b or Sunset growing zones 12-24, and has a trailing habit, reaching 1 foot high and 2 feet wide. Leaves are gray-green and foliage seems to glow in sunlight. Flowers bloom in wintertime into spring, and come in pink, rose, red, or purple. This species is considered invasive in California (United States), Baja California (Mexico), western Australia, and Mediterranean Europe.

Caring for Lampranthus

Plant Lampranthus, 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. To rejuvenate plants that have become leggy or have a woody, bald area at their center, cut them back hard at the beginning of springtime. They will bounce back in the same season with plenty of new growth. Lampranthus plants typically survive for 4 to 8 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 Lampranthus are considered invasive in some regions; see the species descriptions above for more information. Check with local authorities before planting. Lampranthus plants are susceptible to developing issues with the following pests and diseases in the landscape: