Trailing Ice Plant
Mesembryanthemum deltoides
A succulent trailing ground cover with fleshy, cylindrical to three-angled green leaves and sprawling stems that often take on a reddish or pinkish hue.
- Light
- Full sun, requiring at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily.
- Water
- Low water needs. Allow the soil to dry out completely between watering sessions. Highly drought tolerant, and susceptible to root rot if overwatered.
- Growth
- Evergreen succulent perennial forming low-growing, spreading mats or trailing stems reaching a height of 3 to 6 inches and spreading up to 2 feet or more.
Care instructions
Provide full sun and gritty, exceptionally well-draining soil. Water thoroughly only when the soil has dried out completely, and reduce watering significantly during the cooler winter months.
Growing details
Sunlight
Full sun, requiring at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily.
Watering
Low water needs. Allow the soil to dry out completely between watering sessions. Highly drought tolerant, and susceptible to root rot if overwatered.
Soil
Sandy, rocky, or standard cactus-succulent potting mixes with excellent drainage and a neutral to slightly alkaline pH range of 6.0 to 7.5.
Hardiness zone
USDA zones 9 through 11, preferring mild winter climates and frost-free environments.
Growth habit
Evergreen succulent perennial forming low-growing, spreading mats or trailing stems reaching a height of 3 to 6 inches and spreading up to 2 feet or more.
Bloom season
Blooms in spring to early summer, producing daisy-like flowers in shades of pink, purple, or magenta.
Propagation
Easily propagated through stem cuttings left to callus for a day before planting in dry, sandy soil, or by seeds sown in spring.
Common pests & issues
Prone to root rot and fungal stem rots if kept in damp soil or humid environments. Pests can occasionally include mealybugs or aphids.
Similar species
Lampranthus species, which share similar succulent foliage and bright daisylike flowers but generally have stiffer, more upright or shrubby branching habits.