# Ice Plant (*Delosperma*)

Ice Plant is a fun plant with bright, colorful flowers that look like little jewels! It loves sunshine and can even survive in sandy soil.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Rare
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Dry, sunny areas
- **Also known as:** Hardy Ice Plant, Trailing Ice Plant

![Ice Plant](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771425781/objects/5005.jpg)

## Appearance

The Ice Plant is a low-growing succulent known for its fleshy leaves that often appear covered in tiny, glistening 'ice crystals.' It forms dense mats and produces an abundance of small, daisy-like flowers in vivid shades of pink, purple, yellow, or orange.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Caryophyllales
- **Family:** Aizoaceae
- **Genus:** Delosperma

## Interesting facts

- Its leaves look like they're covered in tiny, sparkling ice crystals!
- Some ice plants can amazingly change color when the weather gets cold.
- They are often planted on hillsides to help stop the soil from washing away.
- You can grow a whole new plant from just a tiny piece of its stem!

## Special abilities

- **Desert Drink-Up!:** Ice Plant can store water in its thick, fleshy leaves to survive long periods without rain.
- **Sunny Sprouter!:** Its bright flowers only open when the sun shines, saving energy at night or on cloudy days.
- **Salty Survivor!:** Ice Plant can grow in salty soils where most other plants struggle, thanks to special glands.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 5-20 cm
- **Spread:** 30-60 cm
- **Flower Size:** 2-5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Spring to fall
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Helps this busy insect gather nectar and pollen.
- **Pollinates:** [Monarch butterfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/monarch-butterfly) (*Danaus plexippus*) — Provides nectar for this famous migrating butterfly.
- **Eaten by:** [Garden snail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-snail) (*Helix aspersa*) — Can be a snack for this slow-moving garden creature.

## Traits

- [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.
- [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability.
- [Succulent](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/succulent): Succulent plants have thickened, fleshy parts, usually leaves or stems, adapted to store water in arid climates.
- [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater.

## Collections

- [Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/flowers)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Explore with care and ask an adult if you’re unsure what to do.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Ice Plant?

Count the petals where you can, then compare the flower's center, its symmetry, how the blooms are grouped and the leaves below. Color varies between garden varieties and shifts with the light. Flower Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Ice Plant?

5-20 cm

### How wide does Ice Plant spread?

30-60 cm

### How big are the flowers on Ice Plant?

2-5 cm

### When does Ice Plant bloom?

Spring to fall

### Is Ice Plant edible?

Yes

### Is Ice Plant toxic?

None

### What is Ice Plant's lifecycle?

Perennial

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Ice Plant: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ice-plant)