Ice Plant 'Ice Cream Orange' (Delosperma)

Where to Plant:

For a dazzling summer display, plant this hardy ice plant in the sunniest, most baked spot you can find. It creates a low, spreading carpet of succulent foliage, smothered in vivid orange, daisy-like flowers. Its survival is entirely dependent on having sharply-drained soil, as it detests winter wet. This makes it an ideal candidate for a rock or gravel garden, for spilling over the edge of a sunny wall, or for planting in a terracotta pot or alpine trough.

How to Plant:

Plant container-grown plants during the spring or summer months. Prepare the planting position by digging a hole and amending the soil with plenty of horticultural grit to ensure water can drain away freely. Place the plant in the hole so it sits at the same depth as it was in its pot. Fill in around the plant with the gritty soil, firm down gently, and give it one good watering to help it establish.

Aftercare:

This is a very low-maintenance plant. After its initial watering, it will not need any more unless there is a very severe and prolonged drought. Do not apply any feed or fertiliser. The key to its long-term success is protection from damp, not cold, in the winter months. The foliage will die back in autumn and the plant will overwinter as a small, dormant crown, ready to burst back into life when the weather warms up in spring.