Delosperma nubigenum
An evergreen, mat-forming succulent groundcover with bright yellow daisylike flowers that bloom from late spring through fall, highly drought- and heat-tolerant, thriving in full sun on well-drained soil and spreading to form a dense, low-growing carpet.
Common Names
Yellow Ice Plant, Ice Plant, Hardy Yellow Ice Plant, Hardy Ice Plant
Summary
Native to South Africa and Lesotho, the hardy yellow ice plant is a mat-forming evergreen succulent that forms a dense, low-growing ground cover, with green, succulent foliage that bronzes to reddish tones in winter and bright yellow, daisy-like flowers in late spring to early summer, typically about 2–4 inches tall and spreading roughly 12–24 inches. The plant displays a compact, creeping habit and is grown for its vivid yellow blooms and evergreen foliage.
In cultivation, it thrives in full sun with very well-drained soil and is drought- and heat-tolerant, with overwatering to be avoided; propagation can be achieved by breaking off short stem sections that root easily. It is commonly used as ground cover in rock gardens, edging, walls, and containers, and is generally pest- and disease-free though aphids and mealybugs may occur. Hardy in USDA zones 5–10.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
2-4 inches
Spread
9-18 inches
Hardiness Zones
Zones 6-8
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally full sun. Tolerates partial sun.
Soil Type
Well-drained sandy soil
Soil Drainage
Well-drained soil
Soil pH
6.6-7.8
Bloom Color
Yellow
Bloom Time
Spring
Foliage Color
Green, bronze in winter
Fall Foliage Color
Bronze
Leaf Lifecycle
Evergreen broadleaf
Growth Rate
Fast
Seasons of Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall
Propagation Methods
Seeds, Cuttings, Division
Attracts Wildlife
Attracts butterflies
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- (Schltr.) L.Bolus
- Publication
- Handb. Succ. Pl. 3: 1103. 1960.
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Caryophyllales
- Family
- Aizoaceae
- Subfamily
- Ruschioideae
- Genus
- Delosperma