Ice Plant
Carpobrotus edulis • Aizoaceae
🌱 Seed Category
Flower
🌍 Origin Region
South Africa, well-adapted to coastal and Mediterranean regions worldwide
📅 Days to Maturity
90 to 120 days from sowing to first bloom, with flowers typically appearing in spring through summer depending on the climate.
🌡️ Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 9 through 11, tolerating mild frost down to about 25°F, and acts as a perennial in warm climates or an annual in cooler regions.
About This Seed
The seeds are extremely tiny, kidney-shaped to oval, smooth, and brown to reddish-brown in color. The resulting plant is a low-growing, mat-forming succulent perennial with fleshy, triangular leaves and brilliant, daisy-like magenta, pink, or yellow flowers that blanket the ground.
Growing Information
Growing Season
Spring or Fall, can be direct sown or started indoors, highly frost-sensitive
Germination
Germination takes 10 to 21 days at an optimal soil temperature of 65°F to 75°F. Germination rate is generally moderate to high. Seeds require light to germinate, so they should be pressed lightly into the soil surface without covering.
Planting Instructions
Plant seeds on the surface of the soil with a depth of 0 inches or just pressed in, spaced 12 to 18 inches apart in sandy, well-draining soil with a neutral pH of 6.0 to 7.5. No special pre-treatment is strictly required, though a light misting helps keep them in place.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun (at least 6-8 hours daily). Watering should be minimal once established as it is exceptionally drought-tolerant; water only when the soil is completely dry.
Companion Plants
Pairs well with other drought-tolerant succulents and coastal plants like Agave, Sedum, and Gazania, while avoiding moisture-loving plants that require frequent irrigation.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional drought and salt tolerance, highly resistant to deer, excellent for erosion control on slopes, and highly attractive to bees and other pollinators.