Delosperma 'ICE CREAM'™ series hardy iceplant
Delosperma
Iceplant (Delosperma) is a genus of low-growing, perennial succulent plants in the family Aizoaceae, native mainly to the mountainous and semi‑desert regions of southern Africa, where it inhabits rocky slopes, crevices, and places where water disappears before it has a chance to soak in. The genus was described in the early 20th century by the British botanist Nicholas Edward Brown (1849–1934), who noticed the tiny, glistening cells on the surface of the leaves—features that gave the plants their name, derived from the Greek delos ("conspicuous") and sperma ("seed"). Delospermas are characterized by their fleshy, evergreen leaves capable of storing water for long periods, and by their strictly mat‑forming, creeping habit, which allows them to create dense, low carpets. During flowering, these inconspicuous cushions transform into a blaze of daisy‑like blooms that open only in full sun and rank among the most rewarding ornaments of dry, heat‑exposed sites.
IceCream™ is a Dutch series of hardy iceplants introduced by Florensis BV. Why Ice Cream? Perhaps because its colours recall the counter with several ice cream types and you never know which to choose. Go and indulge yourself as in case of iceplants you never have to worry about a bad stomach which is mostly a result of too much ice cream 😊 They bloom only on a sunny days and close when it’s overcast or cloudy. These are the varieties available so far:
IceCream™ Yellow – Delosperma 'Delolemo12' ICE CREAM YELLOW
IceCream™ Orange – Delosperma 'Delooran3' ICE CREAM ORANGE
IceCream™ Salmon – Delosperma 'Delorasb1' ICE CREAM SALMON
IceCream™ Fire – Delosperma 'Deloredcu7' ICE CREAM FIRE
They are all beautiful and sweet. Just don’t eat them. You have space combine more colours together in a rockery or a stone wall and they will glow like a multicoloured coral reef. They begin to bloom a little later than those from the d. cooperi group – usually from July but last much longer and the last flowers open still in October if the weather is sunny and warm.
Iceplant loves sunny and dry locations, excess watering could kill this plant. It is best for rockeries with plenty of gritty material, in garden beds and along pavements make sure the soil is sharply drained so that the plant never stands in water. You can prune them lightly to moderately in spring to encourage rejuvenation of the centres or to limit their spread. It is supposed to be hardy down to -20 °C (USDA zone 6b) under ideal growing conditions. It can be grown in outdoor pots, too, provided good drainage, though we noticed that small pots need occasional careful watering.
Last update 19-11-2022
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