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Delosperma cooperi ( del - oh - SPUR - muh koo - PER - ee ) is a South African native performing well in the United States in USDA hardiness zones 7 and above .
The plant is an enthusiastically grow , succulent , evergreen groundcover growing of course on the desert plateaus and ironical mountainous region of South Africa .
A penis of the Aizoaceae menage , this herbaceous perennial is normally know as :
The plants ’ genus name is infer from a combining of the Greek Word , Delos , which means “ evident ” and sperma , which mean “ seeds . ”
This is a book of facts to the fact the cum of the plant life are exposed .
The specific epithet is in honor of Thomas Cooper , an English gardener who found and collected specimen of this interesting succulent in South Africa in the mid-1800s .
Delosperma Cooperi Care
Size & Growth
Flowering & Fragrance
Thissucculent solid ground coverproduces mountain of pretty , daisy - like flowers in shade of blood-red - purple throughout the summertime month and into early fall .
The brilliantly colored flower are usually about 2″ inches in diam .
They ’re very attractive to bees and other pollinators .
Light & Temperature
Hardy Ice Plant is in reality quite sensitive to very moth-eaten temperatures and does not do well in USDA hardiness zones north of zone 7 , where it is often used as an annual .
For good carrying out , Ice Plant should be embed in full Lord’s Day in a warm mood .
In slightly cooler climates get lite snow , winter mulching can protect the works ’ roots and allow it to return year after year .
Watering & Feeding
This drought - resistant succulent should be watered sparingly during its growing season .
allow for mystifying watering once every couple of weeks if you have not had any rainfall .
Otherwise , Ice Plant should do well with natural rain .
Allow the plants to dry out out thoroughly before the arriver of wintertime .
They should overwinter without moisture .
If you require snow , mulch the plant life well with stalk or some other juiceless mulch to prevent water accumulation around the root .
Fertilizing is usually not necessary , but it ’s not a bad idea to provide a dose of constitutive plant food before winter set in .
If you overdo it , you may threaten the plants ’ ability to come through the wintertime .
Soil & Transplanting
Like most succulents , Pink Carpet prefers wry , sharply drain soil with a neutral pH storey .
If you have poorly drain stain , the industrial plant will not flourish and may pass .
If your territory has a high clay depicted object , you must amend it before planting Ice Plant .
Be sure to add plenteousness of crushed rock and sand for the best results .
In a ice chest climate , get your Ice Plants in the priming by mid - summer so they can become well established before winter .
In warm climate , waitress until fall to constitute if you care .
Remember to give your plants mickle of way to circulate .
Individual plants should be space 15″ to 18″ inches apart .
Grooming & Maintenance
To prevent having your Ice Plant pile upon itself and become too tall , be sure to prune out the wintertime - killed stems in the springtime to get a fresh start every year .
How To Propagate Hardy Ice Plant
As with most succulents , if you want to propagate Ice Plant , do so using stem cutting .
These are set about in water , or plainly poke the ends of the stem into the soil , and they will soon be thrive .
Hardy Ice Plant Pest or Disease Problems
For the most part , Hardy Ice Plant is not capable to serious pest attacks .
As with most succulents , mealybugs and aphids may be elusive on occasion .
Being certain your plants have plenty of good air circulation , and light and airy soil will help forbid this problem .
If aphids or mealybugs do show up , give the grueling spray of water with the garden hose to pick apart them off .
Is The Plant Considered Toxic Or Poisonous?
Even though Pink Carpet is very resistant to squirrels and deer , it has no toxic properties .
It is safe for hombre , dogs , horses , and children .
Is The Plant Considered Invasive?
This enthusiastic cultivator can become invasive in contributing environments .
If you live in a very warm setting , take care not to allow it to escape your garden .
Suggested Delosperma Cooperi Uses
Ice Plant is an excellent choice for erosion control , as a groundcover or to domesticate over big areas .
case-by-case plants make prissy additions to desert gardens and rock gardens .
The plant look great used as an edging plant if you do n’t mind working to keep it in berth .
