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🔍 Click to enlargegroundcoverperennial
Ice Plant
Delosperma cooperi
Succulent ground cover with bright daisy-like blooms. Outstanding on slopes and in dry gardens.
Quick Facts
Sun:☀️ Full Sun
Water:💧 Low
USDA Zones:Zones 5–11
Space:🌱 Small Bed, 🏡 Large Garden
Soil:Sandy, Loam, Chalky
Best Season(s):Spring, Summer
Experience Level:🌱 Beginner
Native Range:South Africa
Bloom Color:Vivid magenta-purple, daisy-like
Bloom Cycle:Late spring through summer
Care Notes
Extremely drought tolerant. Never overwater. Excellent for erosion control on slopes.
Growing Details
Mature Size:3-6 in tall, 18-24 in wide (spreading mat)
Growth Rate:🐇 Fast
Zone Performance
At the cold edge (Zone 5) Ice Plant needs sharp winter drainage above all else, since wet, freezing soil kills it faster than cold temperatures alone; a gravelly slope site greatly improves winter survival. At the warm edge (Zones 10-11) it thrives with minimal supplemental water and can bloom nearly year-round, making it a staple of low-water xeriscape design in hot, dry climates.
Companions & Wildlife
🦌 Deer Resistance
seldom damaged
The thick, succulent foliage is generally unappealing to deer, making Ice Plant a reliable choice for dry, exposed slopes in browse-prone areas.
🐝 Pollinator Value
high
The abundant, brightly colored daisy-like flowers are a strong nectar source for bees and butterflies throughout the summer bloom period.
Good Companions
Sedum (stonecrop) — Both are drought-tolerant succulents needing full sun and sharp drainage, ideal for combined rock garden or slope plantings.
Lavender — Shares full sun and dry, well-drained soil preferences, with Lavender's upright form contrasting with Ice Plant's low, sprawling mat.
Russian Sage (Perovskia) — Tolerates the same hot, dry, sunny conditions, and its airy purple spikes provide vertical contrast above Ice Plant's low carpet of daisy blooms.
Yucca — A bold, architectural companion that thrives in the same dry, sunny, well-drained sites typical of xeriscape and slope plantings with Ice Plant.
Troubleshooting
⚠️ Rot and dieback in winter
Improve drainage by planting on a slope or in gravelly, amended soil, since soggy winter soil combined with cold is the leading cause of Ice Plant failure, not cold temperatures alone.
⚠️ Sparse flowering
Ensure the site gets full, unobstructed sun for most of the day, since Ice Plant blooms poorly in any shade.
⚠️ Mealybugs at stem joints
Treat with insecticidal soap or a strong water spray, checking closely at leaf axils where mealybugs like to hide on succulent stems.
⚠️ Leggy, sparse mats over time
Shear back hard in early spring to encourage denser regrowth, since older plantings can become woody and open in the center.
✅ Pet Safety
Generally considered non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Informational only — always check with a veterinarian if you suspect your pet has eaten something it shouldn't have.