Ice, ice, baby! Warm up your garden with these low-maintenance groundcovers which are suitable for outdoor beds or patio containers. With bright colors and succulent foliage, ice plants make a fantastic choice for adding low-maintenance color to the garden. Learn how to plant, grow, and care for ice plants.
About Ice Plants
Ice plant is the common name for many species of plants in the genera Delosperma and Lampranthus. They are succulent-leaved perennial ground covers and are evergreen in warmer climates.
Why are they called ice plants? According to the cooperative extension at the University of Arkansas, “some species (but not the winter hardy species) excrete calcium crystals on their leaves that give the plants the look of a heavy frost, hence the common name.” They sparkle in the sun!
Ice plants are fast-growers native to Africa and love hot, dry conditions. They are perfect for groundcovers, rock gardens, and xeriscapes. They also love the arid and sunny conditions that other plants find challenging and tolerate poor soil well.
