Moana Nursery High Desert Plant Finder & Guide
perennial

Yellow Ice Plant

Delosperma nubigenum

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Yellow Ice Plant (Delosperma nubigenum) at Moana Nursery

Yellow Ice Plant flowers

Yellow Ice Plant flowers

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Yellow Ice Plant (Delosperma nubigenum) at Moana Nursery

Yellow Ice Plant in bloom

Yellow Ice Plant in bloom

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Plant Height:  1 inch

Flower Height:  2 inches

Spread:  24 inches

Sunlight:  full sun 

Hardiness Zone:  4

Description:

This unique variety forms a very low mat of succulent evergreen leaves bearing loads of small daisy-like flowers in spring; a great choice for hot dry areas and is exceptional as groundcover, in the rock garden, edging, and as a lawn substitute.

Ornamental Features

Yellow Ice Plant features showy yellow daisy flowers with gold eyes at the ends of the stems from late spring to early summer. Its attractive tiny succulent oval leaves emerge light green in spring, turning green in color. As an added bonus, the foliage turns a gorgeous coppery-bronze in the fall.

Landscape Attributes

Yellow Ice Plant is a dense herbaceous evergreen perennial with a ground-hugging habit of growth. It brings an extremely fine and delicate texture to the garden composition and should be used to full effect.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and usually looks its best without pruning, although it will tolerate pruning. It is a good choice for attracting butterflies to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Yellow Ice Plant is recommended for the following landscape applications;

  • Mass Planting
  • Rock/Alpine Gardens
  • Border Edging
  • General Garden Use
  • Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Yellow Ice Plant will grow to be only 1 inch tall at maturity extending to 2 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 24 inches. Its foliage tends to remain low and dense right to the ground. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 5 years. As an evegreen perennial, this plant will typically keep its form and foliage year-round.

This plant should only be grown in full sunlight. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist growing conditions, but will not tolerate any standing water. It may require supplemental watering during periods of drought or extended heat. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in sandy soils. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in both summer and winter to conserve soil moisture and protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This species is not originally from North America. It can be propagated by cuttings.

Yellow Ice Plant is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. Because of its spreading habit of growth, it is ideally suited for use as a 'spiller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the edges where it can spill gracefully over the pot. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.

 
 
Hardiness Zone Plant Height Minimum Sunlight
Characteristics
Massing  Rock  Edging  Garden  Container 
Applications
Flowers  Foliage Color  Fall Color  Texture  Attracts Wildlife 
Ornamental Features