Ice Plant: A Hardy and Vibrant Groundcover

Plant Characteristics

Ice Plant is a persistent succulent with a spreading, ground-cover growth form.

• Height: The plant has a mature height of 4- 6 inches, a spread of 12-24 inches, and varies by variety.
• Bloom Season: Ice plants give flowers late spring through summer and blossom in early summer, lasting several weeks.
• Growth Habit: Ice Plant is a non-rising installation of the ground into an excellent covering or edging.
• Leaf Shape: Leaves are fleshy, green, slightly succulent, usually slightly shiny, and thus look frosty or ice-like (this quality is bound with the name given to the plant).

Uses

Ice plants can be used in several ways, both in the landscape and in the garden.

• Groundcover: Ice Plant can spread like wildfire, making it ideal as a ground cover, especially in dry areas, rock, or poor soil.
• Xeriscaping: It is highly drought-tolerant. It would make a good option in low-water-use landscaping.
• Container Gardening: Ice plants can do well in pots, hanging baskets, and thus are a good choice for patios and balconies.
• Erosion Control: Soil erosion is also prevented due to the spreading and forming of a dense mat by the plant on the slope.

If you're considering ground cover succulents, Sedum is another excellent option

Growing Conditions

Ice Plant is a tough plant that can be grown under a range of conditions, although it can be expected to reflect the conditions favoured by Ice Plant.

• Soil: Ice Plant grows well in soil with sandy content that is well-drained in its growing conditions and has a slightly acidic or neutral pH.
• Sunlight: An ice plant needs a great deal of sunlight. Preferably, it needs 6-8 hours of direct sunlight/day to grow well and flower profusely.
• Temperature: Ice Plant is a heat-tolerant plant. It also grows well even in warm climates. It grows best between 60°F and 85°F (15°C -29°C).
• Water: Ice Plant does not grow well in a drought, but is drought-tolerant once planted. However, it must be watered frequently in the growing season.

For more on how to get the soil & light right, see our Succulent care tips article.

Seed Morphology

The seeds of Ice Plant are small and can be effectively managed, thus simple to plant by a novice and an experienced gardener.

• Color: Tan / light brown
• Shape: The shape is oval and flat in a way, yet tiny.
• Weight: 1000 seeds weigh about 0.5 grams

Germination Requirements

Ice Plant seeds need the following conditions to germinate successfully:

• Temperature: The ideal temperature to germinate seeds is between 65°F and 75°F (18°C and 24°C).
• Light: The Ice Plant succulent has seeds that require light to germinate. Seeds need to be softly pressed into the ground, and they are not to be buried deeply.
• Watering: Do not overwater or saturate soils. Keep soils moist. Prevent excessive watering, by which the seed can rot or develop a fungus.
• Soil PH: The pH of the soil should be a little acidic to neutral (6.0-7.0) to germinate.

Seed Viability and Vigor

There is high viability and vigor of Ice Plant seeds, particularly when handled and stored appropriately.

• Germination Rate: There is a germination rate of 70-80 percent in the Ice Plant seeds, conditioned by the place of storage and environment.
• Viability Period: As long as the seeds are stored in a cool, dry place, they will have room to last as long as 1-2 years.

Vigor Testing: Testing of seed vigor can be carried out by the use of accelerated ageing method or negative controlled condition testing to guarantee quality seeds.

Tip: Use a well-draining mix such as Succulent Mix to avoid root rot.

Propagation and Sowing

Ice plants can be propagated easily using seeds, and so it is a good plant to grow among gardeners who love to propagate plants out of nothing.

• Indoors Sowing: To give the seeds an optimum growing environment, seeds are sown 6-8 weeks before the last frost date. Put the undeveloped seed in a tray or in tiny pots with the free-draining soil.
• Direct Sowing: Ice Plant can also be simply sown directly outside as soon as the risk of frost is over. Just put the seeds on the surface of the clay and flatten them with your fingers.
• Plant Depth: About 1/8 inch (3 mm) is the ideal depth to sow Ice Plant seeds that will germinate well.
• Spacing: Space the plants 12-18 inches apart, as they grow, so they do not take up unnecessary space.

Disease and Pest Resistance

Ice Plant is a rather tough plant, but nevertheless, it is subject to some pests and diseases. Some of the most common problems to be noticed are:

• Aphids: Aphids are also pests that might attack the plant and suck the sap from the plant, resulting in distortion of the leaves. The aphids can be eliminated using the insecticidal soap or through the introduction of ladybugs, whose presence causes the aphids to be eaten away.
• Mealybugs: The pests are also capable of attacking Ice Plant, leading to wilting and yellowing of the leaves. Get rid of mealybugs using alcohol spray or insecticidal soap, spraying the plant.
• Powdery Mildew: This fungus condition may show up when it is humid, particularly in an overwatered plant. Proper circulation of air around the plant and not overhead watering.

Storage and Handling

Seed viability depends on seed storage so that it can germinate. 

• Seed Storage: Seeds can be stored in a cool area and ideally at a temperature range of 40°F -50°F (4°C-10°C).
• Humidity: Perform the humidity test. It should not be above 40% to prevent the seeds from developing mold.
• Packaging: To avoid exposure of seeds to moisture, keep such seeds in airtight packages that prevent the invasion of pests.

Summary

Ice Plant is a drought-resistant succulent plant that is ideal in low-maintenance gardens and xeriscaping. It has beautiful, daisy-like flowers that aid in giving a pop of color in the summer months. It supports pollinators, which will also be beneficial to a garden. Being equally useful as ground cover, in containers, or against erosion, Ice Plant is attractive and versatile, and can satisfy the needs of any gardener. It survives in drought, and it does not require much care as it grows well in poor soils and also thrives in limited water areas.