Groundcover
Hardy Ice Plant
Delosperma cooperi
A succulent carpet of neon daisies. Perfect for hell strips, slopes, and rock gardens.
- Pollinator
- Groundcover
- Evergreen
Quick facts
- Hardiness
- USDA zones 5–9
- Water
- Very low once established
- Sun
- Full sun
- Size
- 2–6 in. tall × 18–24 in. wide
- Bloom & interest
- Shimmering magenta-purple daisies from early summer into fall
- Plant type
- Groundcover
- Native range
- Not native to the US (non-invasive garden plant)
Why we recommend it
A shimmering succulent groundcover that blooms from early summer into fall on essentially no supplemental water. Related Plant Select ice plants (Table Mountain, Fire Spinner, Mesa Verde) extend the color range.
Best regions: Front RangeHigh DesertGreat BasinSouthwest
How to grow it
Watering to establish
Water every few days until rooted, then weekly for a month; afterward only in long dry spells.
Pruning
None needed; replace winter-killed patches with cuttings in spring.
Soil
Lean, fast-draining gravelly soil. Wet winter soil and bark mulch are its main killers; use gravel mulch.
Pairs well with
Read more
Where to buy
Shop Hardy Ice Plant from trusted growers. For the best selection of xeric plants, try a mail-order specialist or ask a local independent nursery.
- High Country Gardens (opens in a new tab)Xeric specialist
- Nature Hills Nursery (opens in a new tab)Wide selection
- American Meadows (opens in a new tab)Perennials & seeds
- Etsy (opens in a new tab)Small growers
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