Why people love it
For most of the year, ice plant is a tidy mound of small, finger-like leaves. Then, from late winter into spring, it covers itself in shiny, daisy-like flowers in magenta, pink, orange, red or yellow, so many that you can hardly see the leaves. It’s a favorite for dry, sunny gardens, slopes and coastal yards.
Care in a nutshell
- Plant it in full sun. Shade means few flowers and leggy stems.
- Drainage first. It tolerates poor soil, but not soil that stays wet.
- Trim after flowering. A light trim keeps it compact. Cut stems root easily, so plant a few elsewhere.
Frost and cold
Ice plant handles a light frost, but a hard freeze can kill it. In places with cold winters, grow it in a pot you can move into a bright, cool spot, or take cuttings in late summer to keep over winter.
Watch out for
- Rot in heavy, wet soil, especially in winter. Plant on a slope or in a raised bed if your soil is clay.
- Woody, bare centers on older plants. Replace them with fresh cuttings every few years.
Fun fact: The name “ice plant” comes from some of its relatives, whose leaves are covered in tiny, glistening, water-filled bumps that look like ice crystals.
