The Ice plant, also known as the Stone plant, is a cold-hardy succulent with heart-shaped leaves. It is a groundcover that produces stunning daisy-like blooms in pink, purple, and yellow. It is a hardy plant that attracts bees and butterflies to the yard.
The ice plant, with its stunning purple blooms, can bring any garden to life with its vivid blooms. These trailing plants, which are commonly used as a groundcover in dry or coastal areas, are decorated with bright daisy-like flowers all summer.
Ice plant blossoms give a dazzling burst of color to the drier areas, and ice plant care is simple. The plants appear similar; delosperma is a well-behaved, non-invasive plant that works well in a variety of garden settings, from cottage-style to modern.
Ice Plant
The ice plant (Aizoaceae) is a succulent, perennial ground cover with daisy-like blooms. The ice plant, also known as the fig-marigold family, is a large family of dicotyledonous flowering plants includes 135 genera and around 1800 species.
The term ice plant comes from the plant’s microscopic hairs, which reflect light in a way that mimics ice crystals. They are known as carpet weeds or ice plants. In South Africa and New Zealand, they are usually referred to as vygies.
The ice plant is so called not because it is cold hardy, but because the blooms and foliage appear to be covered with frost or ice crystals. The plants may reach heights of 3 to 6 inches and widths of 2 to 4 feet.
Depending on the species, ice plants can range from a spreading ground cover to a bushy sub shrub. They normally blossom in the spring and continue to bloom throughout the growing season.
Ice plant flowers bloom in the summer and fall in USDA plant hardiness zones 5-9. Their foliage is mostly evergreen; they form a great year-round ground cover. While the plant is evergreen, the foliage often dies back in the winter.
Plant Overview
- Common Name: Ice plant, cold hardy ice plant, trailing ice plant
- Botanical Name: Delosperma spp., Lampranthus spp.
- Family: Aizoaceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous, perennial
- Mature Size: 3–6 in. tall, 12–24 in. wide
- Sun Exposure: Full
- Soil Type: Dry, sandy, well-drained
- Soil pH: Neutral
- Water: Sparse watering
- Bloom Time: Spring, summer, fall
- Flower Color: Pink, red, purple, yellow, orange, bi-color and tri-color varieties
- Hardiness Zones: 6–10, USA
- Native Area: Africa
Types of Ice Plants
Because of the Aizoaceae’s hyperdiversity and the clade’s youth, many generic and species limits are uncertain. It is an excellent ground-cover for those looking to cover a large landscape.
Ice plants are available in a number of types, including:
Delosperma brunnthaleri: This is a tough ground cover with yellow blooms that grows about 2 inches tall and 2 feet broad. It is suitable for zones 4 through 9.
Lampranthus aurantiacus: This plant has vivid orange blooms and grows erect, reaching 15-18 inches in height. It is suitable for zones 9 to 11.
Delosperma Floribundum ‘Starburst’: A mat-forming cultivar with pink blooms and white centers. It is suitable for zones 6–8.
Delosperma Cooperi: This plant has magenta blooms and grows to be around 3 to 6 inches tall. It is suitable for zones 6 to 10.
Lampranthus haworthii: This plant has blue-green leaves as well as pink or purple blooms. It is suitable for zones 9 to 11.
How To Grow Ice Plant
Ice plants thrive in pure sand or gravel, which can be combined with garden soil to make a more perfect growth medium. It grows best in full sun, although it will also grow in partial shade.
The ice plant requires at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily. It should be grown in well-drained soil. Ice plant often dies when planted in areas with standing water for lengthy periods of time.
Plant ice plants as an annual in a full sun garden, where they will pour over planter’s edges in a show of bright color. It has the ability to be intrusive and take over. Plant individual plants 15-18 inches apart for best results as a groundcover.
Plant these ice plants in a location where they will not spread. In colder climates, plant ice plants by mid-summer to allow plant root systems to establish themselves before winter.
Pruning
Ice plants require relatively less care in terms of pruning. They develop a really attractive and tidy habit on their own. Pruning isn’t strictly necessary, but it can help clear up the ground cover and keep pests at bay.
However, in spring, don’t be afraid to cut away any stems that withered off during the winter. This allows the plant to direct its energy into its new spring growth rather than trying to revive the old stems.
Deadhead ice plant flowers and trim off any stems that did not survive the winter in mid-spring. If ice plant ground cover becomes dense, thin it down over the summer to maintain good air circulation.
Propagation
Ice plants may spread and self-seed to multiply naturally. Stems that have spread and rooted in the soil away from the parent plant are common.
It goes without saying that in dry, poor soil, ice plant will re-seed itself yearly, and propagation is easy. Ice plant seedlings, cuttings, and division are all efficient ways of propagation.
To transplant, slice the stem and carefully dig up the freshly rooted plant. They are also easily propagated by division. Spring is the greatest time to split a mature plant.
Dig up the plant while being careful not to injure the roots. It is beneficial to wet the soil beforehand in order for the roots to slip out more readily.
Divide the plant in half at the roots using a sharp spade. Replant each half in a suitable growing location at the same depth as the original plant. Gently pat the dirt down and lightly wet it.
Ice Plant Care
Ice plants require little upkeep once they are established. They require very less watering as plants and flourish in drought-like conditions. Also, these plants require little to no fertilization. Plant ice plants blooms and then watch them develop!
Ice plants typically spread roughly 2 feet; they can often grow even more. They work well as container plants, filling the top and finally spilling over the sides. T
Ensure planting spot receives plenty of sunlight and is well-drained soil. Plants should be placed 15 to 18 inches apart since they will soon expand to cover the empty area. Prune any winter-killed stems each spring.
Soil and Fertilizer
An ice plant needs dry soil with great drainage. The plant will suffer in constantly damp conditions, and it will not grow at all in deep clay soil. This plant grows in sandy and gravelly soils. The soil does not need to be nutrition.
When planting, it might be beneficial to add compost or a slow-release fertilizer designed for flowers, as directed on the package. Ice plants may also grow with no food. Weak growth or a lack of blooms might indicate that feeding is required.
Light and Water
Ice plants enjoy full light, where they may flower profusely. Sun-deprived plants become lanky and grow slowly. Make sure they get at least six hours of direct sunlight daily.
Water the ice plant lightly during the growth season once it has established itself. When there is no rain, one watering every two weeks should enough, while a weekly watering may be required during hot weather.
Temperature and Humidity
Ice plants, including “hardy” kinds, are vulnerable to freezing temperatures. Check the hardiness range of any ice plant to grow as a perennial. Winter mulching may be advised if you live in a snowy climate. They thrive in dry climates.
Pests and Disease
Ice plants are relatively resistant to pests and diseases. Pests such as aphids and mealy bugs are the most common issues with ice plants. If you come across pests, a powerful spray of water from the hose will quickly knock them off the plants.
Though the ice plant is disease resistant, aphids and mealy bugs should be avoided. A powerful blast of water can quickly scare them away. If the situation worsens, use a solution of neem oil.
How To Get Ice Plant to Bloom
The blooms of ice plants differ depending on the species. In general, ice plants have showy, daisy-like blooms with several slender petals in a range of vibrant hues.
They begin flowering in the spring and might endure for several weeks. Some plants may bloom a second time later in the summer.
Deadheading, or removing dead blooms, usually has little effect on ice plants in terms of inducing more flowering. Providing ice plants with lots of light promotes blooming.
They do not require rich soil, they may benefit from a boost with a flower fertilizer or compost if soil is deficient in nutrients.
Hope you enjoyed reading the Planting guide of Ice plants. If you think we missed something or have a suggestion, please leave it in the comments section below.
If you are searching fresh and live houseplants online then checkout our extensive collection of amazing indoor and outdoor houseplants.
