• Image of Delosperma cooperitaken at Juniper Level Botanic Gdn, NC by JLBG
1 2

Delosperma cooperi

Cooper's Hardy Ice Plant

This plant is not currently for sale. This is an archive page preserved for informational use.

Shop Available Delosperma
1 Review
| Ask a Question

Item #: 397

Zones: 6b to 9b

Dormancy: Evergreen

Height: 3" tall

Culture: Sun

Origin: South Africa

Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)


The succulent, needle-like leaves and fluorescent purple, up-facing flowers make this semi-evergreen groundcover ice plant a sight to behold. Hot and sunny conditions keep the flowers of Delosperma cooperi coming most of the summer. This is a great groundcover for the beach, since it takes the salt as well as any margarita. A single plant can spread to 2' wide in one season. Although quite hardy, Cooper's ice plant cannot stand excessive winter moisture, either in the soil or applied from above.

Maintenance:

In the garden, Delosperma cooperi is perfect, maintenance free groundcover. It remains evergreen through the winter and needs nothing in terms or routine maintenance.

Growing Conditions:

As mentioned above, excellent drainage is the key to being successful with all ice plants. Mixing small gravel or Permatill into the soil helps tremendously, since ice plants love gravelly soils. In our hot, humid summers with lots of rain, a clump of Cooper's ice plant can die in just a couple of days after a rain, if the drainage isn't excellent. Excess moisture in summer is even more damaging than too much soil moisture in winter. Bright sun for 6+ hours and excellent air movement can help the soil dry more quickly.

Natural Impacts:

All ice plants are excellent nectar sources for honeybees.