Plant library · Perennial Flowers
Delosperma cooperi
Hardy ice plant is a low succulent groundcover that spreads far wider than it grows tall, forming a 6-inch-high layer with neon pink, daisy-like flowers. Use it where a planting needs a clear horizontal line rather than upright structure. Its late-spring-to-early-fall bloom period keeps the front of a sunny bed visually active while taller plants remain behind it.
Set Delosperma cooperi at the exposed edge of a dry border, along a sunny walk, or across a rock garden, bank, or retaining-wall planting. Its spreading habit suits places where foliage can knit over open soil without blocking views or path circulation. Keep it in the foreground of mixed beds, and give it an open edge to expand toward rather than boxing it between taller, denser neighbors.[1][2]
Plant on 18-inch centers for a continuous groundcover effect. Each plant can spread about 2 feet wide, so the foliage may meet and overlap as the planting fills in; reserve that width on the plan rather than treating its 6-inch height as its full presence. Along paths, pull the planting line back enough to preserve the finished walking width and leave room for the mat to broaden.
Give hardy ice plant full sun and a dry, sharply drained root zone. It fits gravelly, sandy, shallow rocky, or raised planting areas where water moves away quickly, and it should not be placed in heavy or poorly drained soil. Use it at the dry end of a bed rather than beside plants that need frequent irrigation; once established, keep watering light during the growing season.[1][2]
The pink flowers run from late spring into early fall, making this a long-season carpet rather than a brief spring edging. Place it where the color can read from above or across an open bed, since the flowers sit close to the ground. Its low canopy also leaves taller summer bloomers visible behind it instead of competing with them for silhouette.
Winter wetness is the main siting risk. In colder parts of its range, favor a sheltered position with excellent drainage, such as a raised gravel bed, slope, or rock garden, rather than a low spot that holds water. Do not rely on it to cover a difficult damp area; poor drainage can lead to weak growth or loss, especially through winter.[1][2]
Editorial content updated 2026-07-20.