Delosperma sutherlandii (Sutherland's Ice Plant)

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Delosperma, Genus, spp., Multiple species,

Genus
Multiple species

Sheepfigs

Aizoaceae Southern and eastern Africa

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Drought Tolerant Container Friendly

SunFull Sun

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 5–11

Overview

Delosperma is a genus of about 150 succulent perennials in the ice plant family (Aizoaceae), native to southern and eastern Africa. Most species form low, spreading mats 5-15 cm (2-6 in) high that creep outward to 30-60 cm (12-24 in), though a few build into low subshrubs to 30 cm (12 in). The fleshy leaves are green, cylindrical to three-sided or flattened, and clothed in tiny glistening cells that give the plants their common name. From late spring into autumn the plants carry many-petalled, daisy-like flowers 2-5 cm (1-2 in) across in magenta, purple, pink, yellow, orange, and white, which open in sunshine and close in dull weather. Flowering is heavy and recurrent over a long season. The genus is adapted to dry, sunny habitats on rocky and sandy ground, and plants store water in their leaves to carry them through drought. Cold tolerance varies sharply: species such as D. cooperi and D. nubigenum survive to about USDA zone 5, while many others are damaged below freezing. Sharp drainage is critical, as the succulent crowns rot in wet, heavy soil over winter.

Native Range

Delosperma is native to southern and eastern Africa, with its greatest diversity in South Africa, extending into the Drakensberg mountains and north to Ethiopia and the Arabian Peninsula. High-altitude species account for the genus hardiest members.

Suggested Uses

Delosperma species are planted as drought-tolerant groundcover on banks, in rock gardens, between paving, and in green-roof and xeriscape plantings. Trailing forms spill over walls and container edges. The open flowers draw bees and butterflies through the warm months.

How to Identify

Look for low succulent mats of fleshy, often cylindrical leaves whose surface glints with minute water-storing cells. The many-rayed flowers resemble small daisies but belong to the ice plant family, with numerous narrow petals rather than true ray florets. Seed capsules open when wetted and close again as they dry, a trait shared across the Aizoaceae.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height2" - 1'

Width/Spread1' - 2'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~16 weeks

Flowers: May–September

Spring Summer Fall

Bloom begins in late spring and recurs through summer into autumn, peaking in warm, sunny spells. Individual flowers last several days, and the long succession can cover the foliage for weeks at a time. Flowers stay shut on overcast days and at night.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

magenta, purple, pink, yellow, orange, or white

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun

Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 7.5 (Neutral to alkaline)

3579

Soil Types

sand loam rocky

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Plants grow in full sun on gritty, sharply drained soil at a pH of 6.0-7.5. Once established they need little water and withstand heat and drought, drawing on moisture stored in their leaves. Winter wet is the main hazard, since the crowns rot in cold, saturated ground. Cold hardiness depends on the species, ranging from about USDA zone 5 to zone 10. A gravel mulch helps keep the crown dry and reduces rot.

Pruning

A light shearing after the main flush tidies the mats and can prompt a second flowering. Taking off spent flowers improves the look of the planting but is not essential. Frost-damaged growth is cut away in spring once new shoots appear.