Plant DetailShow Menu

Delosperma cooperi is often confused with:
Senecio crassissimus Senecio crassissimus form
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Catharanthus roseus close up of 2 pink, pinwheel flowers with dark pink eyes.
Dianthus Flowers
Iberis sempervirens Iberis sempervirens

Hardy Ice Plant Delosperma cooperi

Other Common Name(s):

Other plants called Hardy Ice Plant:

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 the Desert Moon Stone', 'Table Mountain'
Tags:
#purple#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#succulent#pink flowers#salt tolerant#spreading#summer flowers#groundcover#garden walls#HS302#Guilford Crevice Garden#container plant#perennial
 
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 the Desert Moon Stone', 'Table Mountain'
Tags:
#purple#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#succulent#pink flowers#salt tolerant#spreading#summer flowers#groundcover#garden walls#HS302#Guilford Crevice Garden#container plant#perennial
  • 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.
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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