Succulent
Hardy Ice Plant
Delosperma cooperi · Aizoaceae
Also called: Cooper's Ice Plant, Trailing Ice Plant, Purple Ice Plant
Hardy Ice Plant (Delosperma cooperi) is a low-water succulent well suited to Tucson and the low desert. It grows to 3-6 in H x 18-24 in W in full sun, with a moderate growth rate.
Hardy Ice Plant at a glance
- Water use
- Low (established)
- Sun
- Full sun; needs strong light for best flowering and compact growth.
- Mature size
- 3-6 in H x 18-24 in W
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Bloom
- Bright magenta-purple, daisy-like (also pink/lavender forms and hybrid colors), Late spring through summer, with sporadic bloom into fall
- Cold hardiness
- Very cold hardy for an ice plant, to about -10 to 0 F (USDA Zone 5-6); hardiest of the commonly grown ice plants, hence 'hardy.'
- Soil
- Requires sharply drained, gritty or sandy soil; will rot in heavy clay or poorly drained spots. Tolerates lean, alkaline soils.
- Native range
- South Africa (high-elevation grasslands of the Drakensberg region)
- Best used as
- Small-area groundcover, Rock gardens, Edging and parkway strips, Containers and green roofs, Slope cover with good drainage
- Wildlife
- Flowers attract bees and butterflies.
- Toxicity
- Non-toxic; low concern to people and pets.
How to grow Hardy Ice Plant in Tucson & the low desert
Watering
A succulent that needs little water once established; water every 10-14 days in peak summer and much less the rest of the year. Overwatering and wet feet are the main causes of failure, especially during summer monsoon.
Fertilizer & nutrients
Very light feeder; little to no fertilizer needed. An optional light spring feeding can boost bloom, but avoid rich soil and heavy nitrogen.
Pruning & care
Minimal; shear lightly after main bloom to tidy and encourage rebloom, and remove any mushy or rotted sections promptly.
Notes
Succulent groundcover with fleshy, cylindrical leaves and brilliant flowers that open in sun. In Tucson it is more challenging than in cooler high-desert/intermountain areas because intense low-desert summer heat combined with monsoon moisture can cause rot; best sited in fast-draining soil, used in small areas or containers, and given some protection from the most intense reflected heat. Excellent for higher-elevation Arizona gardens.
Sources: AMWUA 'Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert'; University of Arizona Cooperative Extension; Plant Select / High Country Gardens (cold-hardiness data)