Pink trailing iceplant
Delosperma cooperi · Aizoaceae
📷 Didier Descouens · CC BY-SA 4.0
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around pink trailing iceplant and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Foliage
- Evergreen, succulent and grayish-green
- Flowering
- Summer (June to August), vibrant magenta-pink flowers
- Mature size
- 20 cm in height, spreading and mat-forming growth
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Hardiness
- Down to approximately -10 °C
- Origin
- South Africa
- Soil type
- Well-drained, poor, light, gravelly
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability medium.
Expert tips
The key tip
Delosperma cooperi requires very mineral drainage and a dry crown.
The common mistake
Planting it in heavy garden soil or watering regularly will quickly cause rot.
The pro's trick
In humid climates, grow it in a perforated pot or raised rockery.
Care
Watering
Let the soil dry out between waterings, especially in winter when water needs drop dramatically. During the growing season (spring-summer), water moderately once or twice a month. Absolutely avoid standing water, which causes root rot.
Light Exposure
Place your delosperma in full sun (minimum 6 hours daily). A south or west-facing location is ideal to encourage generous flowering and maintain colorful foliage. In shade, the plant becomes leggy and flowers become sparse.
Soil and Substrate
Prepare a very well-draining mix: cactus and succulent potting soil, sand or perlite in equal proportions. Soil poor in organic matter is preferable. Make sure your pot has drainage holes.
Pruning and Maintenance
Pinch young stems in spring to encourage a compact, branching habit. After flowering, remove spent flowers to extend the blooming period. No severe pruning is necessary: this plant naturally stays low and spreading.
Fertilizing
Apply a very diluted succulent plant fertilizer once in spring and once in early summer. Avoid excessive feeding: excess nitrogen promotes foliage at the expense of flowers and weakens the plant.
Diseases and Pests
Watch for root rot in case of excessive moisture. Spider mites may occasionally attack indoors in dry conditions. Treat by increasing air humidity or, in case of severe infestation, with gentle biological methods.
Did you know?
The name 'Delosperma' literally means 'visible seed' in Greek, because this plant's seeds are exposed on the fruit after it splits. This South African species has adapted to arid, rocky regions, making it a champion of drought resistance – a valuable asset in facing current climate challenges in Mediterranean gardens and rock gardens.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring, once all risk of frost has gone. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: from April to June.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Hottentot figCarpobrotus edulis
- Ruschia lineolataRuschia lineolata
- Sea purslaneSesuvium portulacastrum
- Crystalline ice plantMesembryanthemum crystallinum
- New Zealand spinachTetragonia tetragonoides
- Slenderleaf iceplantMesembryanthemum nodiflorum
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.