Delosperma Species, Hardy Ice Plant, Trailing Ice Plant, Cooper's Ice Plant

On Oct 31, 2015, coriaceous from ROSLINDALE, MA wrote:

Beautiful flowers over an exceptionally long season.

But I've tried it many times here in Boston Z6a on various sites and I've never managed to get it to survive a winter.

PS I'm surprised that so many people commenting here have confused this innocuous plant with the invasive ice plants (like Carpobrotus edulis) that damage natural areas in California.

On Jan 5, 2015, mlml from Penngrove, CA wrote:

While on the one hand, it's nice to see so many people conscious of the invasive plant problem, in this case they are wrong. Calipc, The California Invasive Plant Council recommends using Delosperma cooperi instead of the ice plants which are such terrorists. Many coastal sites in my Sonoma and Marin County areas are completely taken over by them.
Check out Calipc for information about invasive plants, how to get rid of them, and what to replace them with.

On Oct 15, 2014, lokidog from Logan, UT wrote:

This is not one of the noxious weed ice plant species! Please don't post unless you look up the plant in your noxious weed lists for your area - and only use scientific names NOT common names. I'm a botanist and conduct noxious weed surveys, and am a member of the local Native Plant Society (among other conservation groups), and am a Master Gardner. We don't need misinformation being spread, it is harmful. This is like saying all grasses are noxious weeds, extrapolated from one species of grass being a noxious weed. This plant is actually a recommended alternative to other noxious and/or invasive species, so confusion can be detrimental - people may give up and not remove or even plant the invasives in desperation.

This is not reliably hardy here, but maybe I'll try again wi... read moreth protection outside, but it works great when planted in containers I bring in. I put it with other freeze-sensitive plants, especially succulents, and it works wonderfully. It grows quickly in containers, and works well as a companion as it has shallow roots. Usually has two or more long flushes of blooms a year for me.

On Mar 30, 2013, JoannCooper from Bluffton, SC (Zone 8b) wrote:

I garden on sandy soil just north of Savannah, GA. I did not know of this plant until I moved here two years ago, but it is now a staple in my garden. It is THE plant that draws the most comment from visitors, despite it's small size.
In my garden, D. Cooperi is evergreen, thrives in sun in dry or damp soil (my soil is sandy, but well enriched and well drained). It forms a 2" high dense medium green mat (sorry - no foot traffic, please), and has the best color and bloom in damper areas. From early spring through fall it produces small daisy like bright magenta flowers. It spreads at a reasonable rate, but is easy to control. I have not had any seedlings appear. It is easy to propagate from cuttings at any time and seems to have no pest or disease problems. Also looks good... read more spilling over the edges of containers if kept well watered. I love this plant.

On May 24, 2012, jazzy1okc from Oklahoma City, OK wrote:

I've had this plant draping beautifully over the cedar edging and down onto the cement curbing for at least ten years. It is fantastic. This is a very hot, dry, sunny bed where Autumn Sage, Russian Sage, Purple Heart, bearded iris, Nandina, and so on thrive together happily. I was admiring the blooms the other day and noticed that the stem of this plant has grown quite big and tough. I like the way that it softens the edge of that bed so have taken a few cuttings so I can spread it around.

On Apr 14, 2012, apsdecatur from Stone Mountain, GA (Zone 7b) wrote:

If you are looking for a beautiful groundcover for full sun areas prone to drought, this is your plant! I grow it in tough, unamended Georgia clay, and it absolutely flourishes and has spread several feet in wide in only two years. It forms a thick web of stems a few inches tall. Also, the flowers open during the day and close at night. One note is that it is not suitable for foot traffic, as it is a succulent.

On Feb 20, 2012, echinaceamaniac from (Clint) Medina, TN (Zone 7b) wrote:

Awesome plant that blooms continuously from Spring to Fall for me. Who cares if it's native or not? I grow many plants that aren't native to this area. There is no rule that says a plant must be native. If you think that, fine but don't try to force that view on everyone else. It's not invasive in my flower bed either. It grows where I plant it and stays inside the edge of my flower bed. It also hasn't harmed the "native" plants that grow beside it in my flower beds. Don't be so closed minded about plants. These plants can be used to prevent the spread of fires in dry areas of the country and save on watering since they contain so much water and require little water to grow. There are many other positives to them as plants as well.

On Jan 16, 2011, hortulaninobili from St. Louis, MO (Zone 6a) wrote:

Delosperma cooperi:

I have only grown this in pots and as a short-lived ground cover. In containers it creates a nice drought-tolerant cascading plant, alone or with other plants. As a ground cover it performs where elevation permits excessive precipitation to quickly drain off. Unbearable heat and humidity melts ice plant in no time especially when soil is clayey.

Colors of flowers and silvery-blue/green leaves (punctuated with little whitish-silver dots) add radiance to landscape: Ice plant reflects and scatters light well and should be used in the landscape where passersby attention needs to be garnered.

Basic care is more than sufficient--care requirement is so minimal, that if it were a higher organism such as a human, you might get reporte... read mored to the authorities for neglect. Though a smidge of fertilizer and a little water to get it going is probably enough. Some of my favorite planting combinations are with agastache, sedums, low ornamental grasses, cacti, yuccas, lantana, vinca, in rock gardens or xeriscapes, to name a few. A good rule of thumb: plant with other silver-foliaged plants.

On Jul 28, 2010, Tierralinda from Kerrville, TX wrote:

This is a NON native, invasive plant. It will overwhelm the native plants and deplete the soil.

On Nov 23, 2009, tvland from Columbus, IN wrote:

I happened upon this plant at a local Menards. I used it in a container this past season. It was lovely. I have already shared with friends by rooting clippings. It roots from clippings dipped into rooting compound very quickly. I tried one plant in the ground in a rock garden and it died. I thought it may have gotten too hot. I have brought it inside for the winter since I was unsure if it was hardy in my area.

On Jun 21, 2006, lovemygardens from Haysville, KS wrote:

I just happened across this plant last year, looking for a border plant for my garden/waterfall area.... I wound up planting around 50 by the time I was done.... THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL !! The plants have more than quadrupled in size! This year I needed more, bought all that I could find. I'm trying to grow some of my own, not having too much luck yet, but I haven't given up! I am also trying to start some from the dried tops... I'll let you know if I have any success.

On May 15, 2006, debbie1292 from Hermitage, PA wrote:

This is my third year with these plants and last year they were beautiful and spreading but so far this year (May 15, 2006) they look dead. I don't know yet if they're dead or dormant. I see a few dark pink buds at the base of some but the rest of the plant looks dead. I have to withhold judgment for another 3 or 4 weeks.

On Nov 7, 2005, lark567 from Hermiston, OR (Zone 6a) wrote:

This plant was one of 2 that I bought from a seller on E-bay. It has performed like a champ in my xeriscape rock garden. The pink flowers contrast nicely with my yellow hymenoxys scaposa (thrift-leaved perky sue).

On Oct 19, 2004, daleyla from Monterey, CA wrote:

Although this plant is non-native to and considered to grow too well in California's central coast, being a new-comer to this area, I just love the trailing ice plant with it's velvety looking blanket of bright flowers. I have planted 1 shoot that has taken root and is trailing off nicely. I want to find a way to thicken it up.

On Apr 26, 2004, petevllx from Oakland, CA wrote:

hardy ice plant is too hardy here in coastal california. it is categorized as a noxious weed and has invaded sand-dune plant communities. it has smothered and marginalized many native sand-dune plants - many which are rare and endangered. please do not plant in zones 7-10!

On Aug 12, 2003, bluegirl68 from Seattle, WA wrote:

I bought ice plant in 4" pot in May 2002. I planted it in planter under south facing porch. Partial afternoon shade. It is now appr. 30" round and spilling over side. Has been blooming pink daisy-like blooms profusely since late May. Water every few days. Goes nicely with Lotus Vine.

On Aug 6, 2002, smiln32 from Oklahoma City, OK (Zone 7a) wrote:

Beautiful dark pink flowers in spring and summer. Prefers zones 7-10. Doesn't grow as fast as I want it to. :)