From early summer right through several frosts, an explosion of bright magenta fireworks blossoming on succulent sage-green foliage will wow every visitor to your garden after you plant Delosperma cooperi, commonly called Pink-Carpet or Ice Plant. When in bloom, this low-growing, trailing groundcover is covered so profusely in blooms (1 1/2 - 2 inch) that it resembles magenta molten lava when planted in mass, a beacon of attraction to butterflies. It is quite simply breathtaking.

Not to be outdone by her flowers, Ice Plant's glistening, evergreen (in southern zones), succulent, cylindrical leaves begin as a brilliant sage resembling a green carpet and finish the season out a golden-yellow with flushes of pink at the tip in autumn. Her foliage is approximately 2 1/4 inches long, 1/4-inch wide, and 3/16-inch thick with the end of each long, narrow stem rising into a quantity of small isolated flowers.

With a moderate to fast growth rate, you will quickly be rewarded by her performance. Perfect planted in rock gardens and slight slopes because of its erosion control abilities and preference for well-drained soil (it can suffer from water stagnation or rot if left wet too long), Ice Plant loves the full sun, tolerates drought and thrives in very dry, hot environments.

Any Mediterranean type climate will lend itself well to the low-maintenance Ice Plant including coastal gardens where salt spray or salty soil are present.

Things To Note
Though a rough winter may cause Ice Plant to die back, provided there aren't too many wet days causing root rot, Ice Plant will rebound in the spring.

Gardener Tips
Ice Plant is lovely in flower pots and on terraces due to its trailing stems.

Be careful where you toss weeded bits as it is apt to take root and grow wherever leaves are dropped.

Specifications:

No unusual care instructions for this plant.