Ice Plant 'Ice Cream Fuchsia' (Delosperma)

Where to Plant:

This vibrant, mat-forming succulent demands a position in the hottest, sunniest part of your garden. It produces a mass of brilliant fuchsia-pink, daisy-like flowers throughout the summer. The most critical requirement is exceptionally sharp drainage, as the plant will not survive in soil that remains wet during the winter. It is perfectly suited for a gravel garden, a sunny rockery, the top of a dry wall, or in a shallow container or trough with gritty compost.

How to Plant:

You can plant pot-grown specimens in spring or summer. Dig a hole the same size as the pot and thoroughly mix a generous amount of horticultural grit into the surrounding soil. Gently ease the plant from its pot and place it in the hole, making sure the top of the rootball is flush with the soil level. Backfill with the improved gritty soil mix, firm it in gently, and water once to settle the plant. On heavier soils, planting on a slope or a small mound can greatly improve drainage.

Aftercare:

Once established, this hardy ice plant is incredibly drought-tolerant and should not be overwatered. It thrives on neglect and does not require any feeding, which would only encourage soft growth. The plant is very hardy against cold but its survival depends on staying relatively dry in winter. It will die back to a small central rosette over winter before re-emerging with fresh growth in late spring. There is no need to deadhead.