Mesembryanthemum

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At-A-Glance Information

These succulent perennial flowering plants, commonly called Ice Plants, need some shade in the hottest climates of their zone range, and little to moderate water. They are native to South Africa, are considered to be impressively drought-tolerant, and have a trailing habit. Fleshy-leaved stems reach 2 feet long and in the spring and summer hold purple, pink, or white flowers. These plants are wonderful in rock gardens and when used as a groundcover. Where stems spread and touch soil, they will put roots down, and have the potential to become invasive if not kept in check. 

Mesembryanthemum  Species and Varietals

The genus Mesembryanthemum is a member of the plant family Aizoaceae, and includes 108 distinct species. The common name 'Ice Plant' given to many species is a reference to the glistening globular bladder cells covering stems, fruits, and leaves. These plants do best in zones 12, 13, 15-17, 21-24, H1 and H2. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Mesembryanthemum cordifolium (Aptenia cordifolia) (Baby Sun Rose, Heart-Leaf, Red Aptenia, Rooi Brakvygie, Umjuluka, Ibohlololo)
This species is a succulent, creeping plant that forms a mat of green foliage. They are short-lived, and form low clumps from a woody base. They can reach up to 4 inches tall, and stems can spread up to 2 feet along the ground. Leaves are fleshy, small, and green. Flowers are bright pink to purple and solitary, opening during the day and closing back up overnight and on cloudy days. Flowers are present primarily from spring through fall. 

Mesembryanthemum crystallinum (Crystallinum Iceplant)
These Mediterranean native plants form a prostrate groundcover, and produce creeping stems. They can reach between 8 and 24 inches wide, and flower from March through October. Leaves of these plants are edible, and consumed similar to Spinach (Spinacia). Seeds are also edible. Crushed leaves can be used as a soap substitute, and also have medicinal uses. This species is a popular firescaping plant.

Mesembryanthemum digitatum (Finger-And-Thumb Plant)
These succulent plants are stemless, and form a clump of between 2 and 4 thick, waxy leaves per shoot. They are native to Cape Province, South Africa. The plants resemble dwarf shrubs, and typically reach just 4 inches tall. In late wintertime, they produce white to cream-colored blooms.

Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum (Slenderleaf Ice Plant)
This is the type species of the genus, and is native to coastal areas in the Mediterranean, Macaronesia, and the Middle East. It is considered an invasive species in Australia, some Atlantic Islands, the western United States, and Mexico. It forms an annual clumping mat of stems with fleshy cylindrical leaves. Foliage is green to bright red in color, and flowers are white.

Mesembryanthemum tortuosum (Sceletium tortuosum) (Namaqua Skeletonfig, Kanna, Channa, Kougoed)
These plants, native to South Africa, have been used for thousands of years. Dried plants are chewed, made into tea, and even smoked, and are said to reduce stress and depression and improve mood.

Caring for Mesembryanthemum

These plants prefer to be planted in full sun exposure, and appreciate getting between 6 and 8 hours of direct sun each day. Soil should be very well-draining; these plants do well in rocky and sandy soils. They can be planted in between paving stones, or in wall cavities, and can also be grown in pots. Water regularly while plants are establishing themselves in the landscape, ensuring that all excess water drains away after irrigation. At maturity, they are considered drought tolerant, and prefer soil to dry out between waterings. Deadhead spent blooms to improve the appearance of the plant. Although they are considered perennial plants, they are short-lived and are typically grown in annual beds and then removed in fall before cooler temperatures come through. In mild conditions, they may survive the winter, or they can also be dug up and replanted out in late spring. These plants do not need to be fertilized.

Propagation

Mesembryanthemum 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 Mesembryanthemum by Cutting
  1. 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. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
  2. 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.
  3. 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. 
  4. 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 Mesembryanthemum by Seed
  1. 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. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows. 
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
Ice Plant seed pods developing.
Ice Plant seeds are quite small, and are typically light brown to black in color. They are consumed in some areas of the plant's native range.

Problems and Pests

Mesembryanthemum plants are not typically troubled by pests or disease when grown outdoors, but can from time to time have issues with the following:
  • Aphids
  • Powdery Mildew
For more information on these pests and diseases, consult the following links:
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Gallery

These plants produce beautiful shows of brightly colored flowers in summer and fall.
Ice Plants are commonly used as small-scale groundcover plants.
Ice Plants make great addition to both perennial and annual beds.

Videos

How to grow Ice Plant from seed.
Learn about these wonderful succulent ornamentals.
A short video about the invasive potential of these plants.
How to grow and care for Ice Plant.

Resources

Mesembryanthemum Plant Info: How to Grow Mesembyranthemum Flowers
How to Plant and Care for Mesembryanthemum
Wikipedia: Mesembryanthemum
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 161. Aptenia cordifolia
If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or photos you’d like to add to the gallery, please let me know by sending me a message using the button below!
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