Delosperma Ice Plants

Succulent plants for full sun and very well drained soils that are typically hardy from zones 6 to 9 ( unless otherwise noted ). The Ice Plants prefer a gravel rather than organic mulch. They are excellent for gravelly rock gardens and on slopes. Very drought tolerant; they are excellent groundcovers for use in xeroscaping in the west. Many of these are also excellent for use in containers as well as trailing over a wall. Also commonly used for the fronts of borders.
Tolerant of deer, drought, heat, fire, hail, high winds and salt. Few are better for holding loose sandy soil in place. Most really dont enjoy wet winter conditions. They are not prone to insect pests or disease.
Many species of Delosperma contain DMT - oddly enough the same substance that causes dreaming in humans and animals.

Delosperma aberdeense
Forms a tight mound up to 8 x 20 + inches, with very small leaves. Flowers are bright red-pink and blooming lasts all summer.

Delosperma alba
Low creeping plant with thick, succulent foliage. White flowers

Delosperma ashtonii ( Ashtons Delosperma )
Reaching up to 8 x 20 inches; this is an excellent plant for dry sandy soil in full sun. The deep green foliage looks like 3 sided succulent tubes and is up to 0.5 inches in length.
The daisy like flowers are borne from June to Octobe. They are up to 3 inches across and are fushsia pink with a yellow to white eye.

* photos taken on May 5 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.




Delosperma Beauford West
Originated in the Niewveld Mountains in South Africa. The plant forms a tight cushion up to an inch in height.
The foliage is deep green.
The pink, daisy like flowers are up to an inch across and are borne from spring until the first fall frost.

Delosperma congestum
Similar to D. nubigenum; it reaches up to 2 inches x 2 feet. The foliage is bright green and pink tipped flowers are borne in early summer. Hardy zones 4 to 9.

Delosperma cooperi
A fast growing groundcover, forming flat mats reaching a maximum size of 12 x 48 inches. It can spread to 2 feet in 1 year.
The succulent leaves are 3 sided and appear like fat tubes. The gray-green foliage reddens in the fall and winter.
The magenta purple flowers up to 3 inches across appear all summer long up until the first fall frost. Well drained soil is essential; it is hardy zones 6 to 9 and colder where winters are dry. Used as a perennial groundcover in the southwestern U.S. in the east it often dies off in wet winters but can be used as an annual.
Very resistant to drought, fire, erosion, salt and deer. It is more moisture tolerant than some other species, even thriving in much of the Pacific Northwest.

* photos taken on June 10 2011 in Columbia, MD


* photo taken on July 18 2011 in Columbia, MD


Delosperma eckloensis supsp latifolia
thick, succulent foliage on a low cushion. The daisy like flowers are purple and last all summer long.

Delosperma edulis
Is not grown in cultivation due to invasive tendencies. Previously used for erosion control in California where it now runs wild. Tolerates drought, fire, salt, wind and wet soil.

Delosperma Fire Spinner
A dense, mat-forming perennial, reaching up to 2 inches x 2 feet in just 2 years.
The flowers are up to 1.5 inches across.

Delosperma floribundum Starburst
Reaches up to 6 x 20 inches with metallic, glossy, deep green, succulent foliage. The flowers are bright, hot pink centered white and last from June to October. Hardy zones 4 to 9
* photo taken on June 1 2010 in Columbia, MD


Delosperma Gold Nugget
Tidy mounds up to 2 x 30 inches, with fat deep green foliage that reddens in the winter.
Bright golden yellow flowers appear in summer and fall
Hardy zones 4 to 7.

Delosperma John Profitt
A prostrate, evergreen groundcover reaching up to 4 inches x 2.5 feet in size and spreading fast up to 2 feet per year. It is covered in fuschia pink flowers from June through September. Hardy north to zone 4

Delosperma Kelaidis
A low, evergreen groundcover perennial, reaching up to 6 inches x 3 feet in 3 years, eventually more.
The salmon-pink ( with yellow center ) flowers, up to 1.5 inches across, are borne early summer to late autumn.
Hardy zones 6 to 9 ( 4 & 5 on sheltered sites in dry climates ).

* photo taken on Sep 23 in Burtonsville, MD

Delosperma lavesii
Glowing pink flowers on a low growing plant with fine foliage

Delosperma Mesa Verde

* photos taken on May 5 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.


Delosperma nubigenum
An excellent fast growing groundcover forming dense mats up to 4 inches x 3 feet in size. The lime green foliage is tubular and succulent; it turns to bronze-red in the winter.
The flowers are bright yellow and up to 1.5 inches across from June to July.
Hardy north to zone 3 and prefers dry sandy soil. Very drought tolerant as well as being more tolerant of extended winter cold and wet soil than most Delospermas.

Basutoland
An improved form reaching up to 4 inches in height with foliage that reddens in winter. Hardy zones 5 to 9 ( tolerating as low as -30 F )

* photos taken on May 21 2011 in Howard County, MD



Delosperma Ousberg
White flowers from May to July and succulent foliage on this low growing plant that forms a flat mat

* photos taken on May 5 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.


* photos taken on May 17 2012 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on June 20 2012 in Columbia, MD

Delosperma Ruby Stars
Very heavy flowering with intense deep red flowers all summer long.

Delosperma sphalmanthoides
Forms a tiny stemless cushion up to 4 x 8 inches. Foliage consists of gray-green upward facing succulent leaves and the spring flowers are red-purple.

Delosperma sutherlandii
Fast growing and reaching up to 20 x 32 inches in size. Similar to D. cooperi but with showier pink flowers. Recommended for hot sunny sites.

Delosperma Table Mountain
A vigorous groundcover with bright fuschia pink flowers all summer long. Hardy north to zone 4