Ice Plant 'Ice Cream Yellow' (Delosperma)

Where to Plant:

This hardy ice plant is a superb groundcover for the sunniest and driest parts of your garden. It produces a carpet of succulent green foliage that becomes smothered in dazzling, daisy-like yellow flowers all summer long. To ensure its survival, it must be planted in very well-drained soil, as it will not tolerate wet conditions, especially in winter. It is the perfect plant for a gravel garden, a sunny rockery, the top of a dry stone wall, or a shallow container with gritty compost.

How to Plant:

You can plant container-grown specimens in spring or summer. The most important step is to ensure the drainage is perfect. Dig a hole and add a generous amount of horticultural grit to the soil you have removed. Place the plant in the hole so it sits at the same depth it was in its pot. Fill the hole with the improved gritty soil mix, firm it gently around the plant and give it one good watering to help it settle in.

Aftercare:

Once established, this is a truly low-maintenance plant that thrives on neglect. It is extremely drought-tolerant and should not require any further watering. Do not use any feeds or fertilisers. Its hardiness is related to being kept dry in winter, not protected from cold. The foliage will die back to a small central crown in the autumn and will re-sprout when the weather warms up in the spring.