Cooper's Hardy Ice Plant Delosperma cooperi
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- del-oh-SPER-mah KOO-per-eye
- Description
-
Hardy Ice Plant forms a carpet of soft, fleshy green leaves covered with purplish-pink, daisy-like flowers over a long blooming season. Space plants 16-24 inches apart. It flourishes in dry, sandy soil in full sun and is perfect for the xeriscape landscape, rock walls or containers. It is evergreen in warmer winter climate areas but may have trouble returning in wet winter areas. Avoid planting in heavy soils or soils with poor drainage. It is tolerant of heat, moderately salt-tolerant and very drought tolerant.
This plant is occasionally damaged by deer.
It is a member of the ice plant family (Aizoaceae).
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Pond and Stream Rock and Crevice Garden Retaining Wall Garden Crevice Garden at the Guilford County Extension Center
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Jewel of Desert Garnet'
Red flowers, yellow centers - 'Jewel of the Desert Moon Stone'
White flowers - 'Table Mountain'
- 'Jewel of Desert Garnet'
- 'Jewel of Desert Garnet', 'Jewel of the Desert Moon Stone', 'Table Mountain'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Jewel of Desert Garnet'
Red flowers, yellow centers - 'Jewel of the Desert Moon Stone'
White flowers - 'Table Mountain'
- 'Jewel of Desert Garnet'
- 'Jewel of Desert Garnet', 'Jewel of the Desert Moon Stone', 'Table Mountain'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Delosperma
- Species:
- cooperi
- Family:
- Aizoaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southern Africa
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Moderately salt tolerant
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 3 in. - 0 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Horizontal
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Very Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Radial
- Flower Petals:
- more than 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Mass of 2 in. wide, neon pinkish purple daisy-like flowers summer until fall
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Glistening medium to dark green leaves; nearly cylindrical in cross-section. Leaves have bladder-like hairs on the leaf surface that reflects light making them glisten.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Container
- Rock Wall
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Salt
