🌵 Delosperma (Ice Plants): The Ultimate Dartana Guide to Growing Drought‑Tolerant, Colour‑Packed Succulents
Delosperma, commonly known as Ice Plants, are among the toughest, brightest, longest‑flowering succulents you can grow. These brilliant, drought‑tolerant groundcovers thrive in hot, dry, poor soil where many plants fail — rewarding you with carpets of dazzling colour from spring to autumn. In this guide, we’ll show you how to grow them successfully, which varieties thrive in UK gardens, and provide direct links to Dartana’s hardy Delosperma range.
🌞 What Makes Delosperma So Special?
Delosperma are evergreen or semi‑evergreen succulents native to southern Africa. They form dense mats of fleshy foliage and explode with daisy‑like flowers in radiant shades of pink, orange, yellow, purple, red and white.
Their unique advantages include:
- Extreme drought tolerance
- Long flowering season (late spring to autumn)
- Excellent in poor, sandy or gravel soils
- Brilliant performance in hot, sunny spots
- Attracting bees and butterflies
For the full Dartana selection:
👉 Explore the Delosperma Collection
🌱 How to Grow Delosperma (Ice Plants)
1. Light Requirements
Full sun is essential. Aim for at least 6–8 hours of direct sunlight for maximum flowering.
2. Soil Conditions
These plants demand exceptional drainage. Ideal substrates include:
- Gritty compost
- Sandy soil
- Rockery/gravel beds
- Raised beds
- Slopes
Avoid heavy clay unless heavily amended with grit.
3. Watering
Water sparingly. Once established, Delosperma require almost no irrigation except during prolonged droughts.
4. Feeding
Use minimal fertiliser — too much nitrogen leads to soft growth and fewer flowers.
5. Pruning
Remove mushy or winter‑damaged stems in early spring. Light trimming helps maintain shape.
6. Hardiness
Many varieties are hardy down to –15°C when drainage is excellent.
🌸 Top Dartana Delosperma Varieties (Shopify)
Delosperma Jewel of Desert ‘Garnet’ — Neon Pink‑Red Brilliance
A stunning Jewel of Desert cultivar producing rich neon‑pink to red flowers on sunny days. Forms a tough, evergreen, ground‑hugging mat that's perfect for rockeries, slopes and hot, dry borders.
👉 Shop Delosperma ‘Garnet’ – Jumbo Plug Plants
🪨 Where Delosperma Thrive Best
- Rockeries
- Gravel gardens
- Dry borders
- Containers
- Mediterranean‑style plantings
- Slopes and banks
- Hot patios & sun‑drenched areas
They are excellent companions for sedum, sempervivum, armeria, lavender, dwarf grasses and alpine plants.
❓ FAQs About Delosperma
Are Delosperma frost hardy?
Yes — many are hardy down to around –15°C with excellent drainage.
Do Delosperma come back every year?
Yes, they are perennial and return reliably in well‑drained soil.
Why are they called Ice Plants?
Their shimmering foliage and flowers appear to sparkle as if covered in ice crystals.
Do they tolerate poor soil?
Absolutely — they excel in lean, sandy or stony soil.
