Delosperma SUNTROPICS® 'COPPER' 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.
Copper is a gorgeous iceplant variety from the SUNTROPICS® series introduced by Volmary in 2022. It makes rich golden flowers with amber orange to copper red hues. They are large and appear in profusion from the first really hot days of late May and sporadically keep popping up until August, weather conditions pending. They bloom only if the sun is out and close on cloudy days. Evergreen leaves are thick, bright green or with red hues. The plant makes a natural groundcover and can be trimmed every few years to gain density.
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. It is supposed to be hardy down to -34 °C (USDA zone 4) 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 23-06-2023
